Mississippi footballer Sam Westmoreland dies at 18

Mississippi State football player Sam Westmoreland18, has passed away, the school announced Wednesday.

Westmoreland turned 19 on Friday.

The school said in a statement that the university was “deeply saddened” by the news.

“The family of Mississippi State Athletics is saddened by the sudden death of Sam Westmoreland,” Bulldogs coach Mike Leach said in a statement. “Sam was a beloved son, brother and teammate, and a phenomenal young man with a boundless future. He will always be remembered and deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. The entire MSU family is in mourning for our thoughts and prayers. The Westmoreland family. Our highest priority is to support the Westmoreland family and our students. athletes during this difficult time.”

The state of Mississippi said the Octebaha County Sheriff’s Office and the county medical examiner’s office and coroner are collecting information on Westmoreland’s death.

Westmoreland, a freshman, hails from Tupelo, Mississippi, and played high school football at Tupelo High School. He was majoring in industrial technology in Mississippi.

Westmoreland entered the Bulldog after a prestigious run at Tupelo High, earning a spot in the Northeast Mississippi Football Coaches Association All-Star Game last year. He also earned first-team honors in District 2-6A after his first year in 2021-22.