Cal Football Sophomore Bryce Turner Dies at 19
Bryce Turner, a sophomore defensive back for the California Golden Bears, has died at the age of 19.
The football program announced the news in a tweet late Saturday.
Turner suffered a medical emergency while at home with his family, according to the school’s athletics website. Sources told ESPN the emergency occurred during a workout late last month.
Both Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton and football head coach Justin Wilcox released statements expressing their condolences.
“Our hearts are broken with this unimaginable tragedy,” Knowlton said. “Bryce was a young man with a bright future and a valued member of our football team and the Cal family. His life was taken far too soon and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce’s family, friends, teammates and coaches during this difficult time, and we will do all that we can to support each other, his family, our students and the entire Cal community through the grieving process.”
“We are so deeply saddened by Bryce’s passing,” Wilcox said. “This is an extremely difficult day for everyone. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Bryce’s family, friends, teammates and so many others who have been a part of his life. No words can accurately describe the pain we feel in our hearts right now. We’ll always remember Bryce and how he impacted all of us with Cal football.”
Turner had transferred to Cal from Long Beach City College before the 2017 season. He played in one game in 2018 after using the 2017 season as his redshirt year, ESPN reported.
At Long Beach in 2016, Turner tallied 18 tackles, according to CBS Sports. He came there after graduating from St. John Bosco High School, which is outside of Los Angeles. His high school’s football team went 41-3 over Turner’s last three years.
Some of Turner’s teammates remembered him on Twitter:
Turner’s death came nearly five years after another Cal player died following a workout.
Ted Agu collapsed and became unconscious after a team run back in February 2014. CPR was administered, but he was declared dead shortly thereafter at a nearby hospital.
Agu’s parents later sued the school, claiming he was a carrier for a sickle cell trait “that experts believe can lead to death under extreme exertion,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The family eventually received a $4.75 million settlement from the school.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
