In an official statement Tuesday evening, Kent State University confirmed the death of incoming freshman Tyler Heintz, who arrived on campus earlier in the week as a member of the football team’s recruiting class.
"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Tyler's family and friends, as well as Coach [Paul] Haynes and the team, our athletics staff and our student-athletes," the statement read.
The 19-year-old offensive lineman collapsed around 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning following a conditioning workout at Dix Stadium. He was transported to University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna after failed attempts to resuscitate.
Portage County Coroner Dr. Dean DePerro told the Akron-Beacon Journal that Heintz was pronounced dead at 11:34 a.m., whereupon the body was transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
“No stone will be left unturned; a complete autopsy will be done,” said DePerro.
According to ESPN, Heintz played offensive tackle for Kenton High School prior to being recruited by Kent State. The Kenton High football team posted photos and condolences on Twitter. “Shocked and bewildered is all we can say,” reads the post.
Tyler Heintz passed away after a Kent State workout today Shocked and bewildered is all we can say. Pray for his family.
— Kenton Football 2017 (@Kenton_Football) June 13, 2017
What a great kid. Your football family will miss you pic.twitter.com/80JYvNbiTN
— Kenton Football 2017 (@Kenton_Football) June 13, 2017
Heintz had planned to study marketing and entrepreneurship at Kent State’s college of business administration.
Update: June 16, 2017
An Ohio county coroner said that Heintz's death was likely caused by hyperthermia, a condition that occurs when the body fails to cool itself after being exposed to extreme heat. Reports indicate that the coroner's office is awaiting further test results.
