UNLV senior offensive lineman Ben Christman has died at age 21, the university announced Wednesday.
Christman was found dead in an off-campus apartment Tuesday morning, UNLV said. The university said it has no other details at this time and the cause of death will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office (Nevada).
Christman’s family and the UNLV football team were informed of the news and the university said counseling is available for those in mourning.
Christman transferred to UNLV this offseason after spending the last two years at Kentucky, where he appeared in 12 games on special teams last season.
“Our team’s heart is broken to hear of Ben’s passing,” UNLV coach Dan Mullen said in a statement. “Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed.”
Christman, an Ohio native, started his collegiate career at Ohio State, redshirting his freshman season and registering one game played his sophomore year. He was a four-star recruit out of high school, according to 247Sports Composite, and was the state’s sixth-best overall prospect from the Class of 2021.
“There is little that can be said to lessen the pain of suddenly losing a member of our university family at such a young age, and my heart breaks for all who knew and loved him,” UNLV president Keith E. Whitfield said.
(Photo: Ben Jackson / Getty Images)
