College Football Player Dead at 22 Following Workout Collapse

Reed Ryan

University of Minnesota Duluth football player Reed Ryan died on Tuesday, Nov. 28, one week after collapsing at the conclusion of a workout on Nov. 21.

His family announced the tragic news in an obituary posted through Ryan Funeral Homes, revealing that Ryan went into cardiac arrest after the team worked out in the weight room.

According to the statement, Ryan was found to have "an undetected genetic condition and a large, loving heart," which led to his collapse. The family credited the school's athletic training team for their "tremendous" efforts to save the athlete's life, "immediately initiat[ing] CPR and regain[ing] his pulse." Ryan was eventually admitted to the ICU of a local hospital, where the staff was "amazing in doing everything possible for him," but ultimately was unable to save his life.

Ryan's current team, the Bulldogs, memorialized the late player on Twitter, as did his former team, the North Dakota State University Bison, who called him "a constant source of joy, a genuine selfless spirit, and a beloved friend."

Ryan is survived by a large, loving family, who have requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be sent to help establish a scholarship in his honor.

He was also an organ donor, donating several to help others after he passed. He will also be "an important part of a NCAA research study to help prevent this from happening to other athletes," his family revealed.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for young athletes. While he survived, Lebron James' teenage son Bronny suffered the same thing during a team workout over the summer, which was later determined to have been caused by an undiagnosed congenital heart defect that he has since undergone corrective surgery for.

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