Ty Jordan, a freshman running back for the University of Utah growing up in the Dallas area, has passed away, school officials announced Saturday. He was 19.
Authorities in Texas and Utah have not released details of the circumstances surrounding Jordan’s death, but CBS subsidiary KUTV in Salt Lake City reports that Jordan was killed in an accidental shooting. Police in Denton, Texas reported via Twitter that they were responding to a shooting at the 1100 Block of Avenue A. They said there was no danger to the public because the victim accidentally fired the weapon. They have not identified the victim.
The day before, Jordan was named Pac-12’s Newcomer of the Year.
“Words cannot express the devastation and heartbreak our team is currently feeling upon learning of the tragic death of our teammate and brother, Ty Jordan,” Utah Head Football Coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement.
Jordan, a fast 5-foot-7, 200-pound player, emerged from a crowded Utah backfield to become the focal point of the team’s attack. He finished the season with 597 yards rushing, 11 catches for 126 yards, and six touchdowns.
Rick Bowmer / AP
Jordan emerged as a traffic jam in Mesquite, a Dallas suburb, and was an acclaimed recruit. He made a seamless transition into the college game, including three consecutive 100-meter hasty performances to close the season.
Utah was one of nearly two dozen major college football teams to turn down the chance to play a post-season bowl game, but instead players who were in strict COVID-19 protocols for months at a time started their off-season.