Oregon State U. officials confirmed the death of freshman defensive tackle Fred Thompson tonight at OSU’s Dixon Recreation Center.
Thompson was playing pick-up basketball on the upstairs courts at Dixon when he collapsed. He was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis and pronounced dead.
Unofficial reports say he died of an apparent heart attack.
The call to 911 was placed at 6:20 p.m. and Thompson was transported to Good Samaritan at 7:00.
Grief stricken football players took to social media around 8 p.m.
Freshman running back Storm Woods posted “RIP bro we gotta do it for you!!” on his Twitter account shortly after 8:00.
Fellow freshman running back Malcolm Agnew tweeted “Wow, don’t even know what to say right now” minutes after Woods’s tweet.
“It’s one of the those shocking moments,” said ASOSU president Tonga Hopoi. “It puts things in perspective. ”
Hopoi said she ran into senior safety Lance Mitchell and two younger football players she could not identify after finding out the news from junior wide receiver Markus Wheaton.
“It was a quiet moment, everyone just stood there, and the first thing everyone thought about was calling their families,” Hopoi said.
Hopoi said she’s met Thompson “in passing,” and referred to the 6-foot-4, 371-pounder as a “gentle giant.”
Thompson, considered a greyshirt in 2011, was four days from turning 20 years old. The Richmond, Calif. native was a first team all-city selection at Oakland Tech High School as a senior in 2009, registering 90 tackles and seven sacks.
Friends took to social media to express their shock and grief
@BigKatz12: Things just don’t make sense sometimes….RIP Fred. Pray for his family. I’m gonna miss you man.
– Ryan Katz, former OSU quarterback
@smoothdev44: R.I.P to my manz fred god bless him and his family and friends. Smh live life to the fullest cause life too short dnt have time for petty
– Devon Collier, men’s basketball
@Rmullaney08: RIP Fred I miss u man! We are going to ball out for you next year and the years to come! Life is too short love you man
– Richard Mullaney, OSU football
@jtmoto9: Something like this always puts things in perspective.
– Jonnie Motomochi, OSU men’s golf
@J_Poyer14: It can really happen jus like that
Jordan Poyer, OSU football
@galindoB22: sad news. rip. thats why you gotta live everyday like its your last
Brittany Galindo, OSU women’s soccer
@dannyevans_32: tomorrow is never promised… live each day like its your last… Rest in peace my bro
Danny Evans, OSU football
@obumg: Life is short
Obum Gwachum, OSU football
@J1Flight: Haven’t cried in a long time. S**t just got to real. I was just in study hall with you last week. Rip to my bruh Fred Thompson
Jared Cunningham, OSU men’s basketball
@LAchong88: WOW. Live every moment like it’s your last. RIP Fred Thompson. #BeaverNation #weloveyoufred
– Laura-Ann Chong, former OSU gymnast
@JenKesler: May your legend you left behind never be forgotten and your spirit live on… RIP Fred. You will be missed by many
– Jen Kesler, OSU gymnastics
@JamesDockery34: Man I’m just taken back right now! R.I.P Fred..life is too short. My prayers to his family and all of #beavernation you will be missed
– James Dockery, former OSU football player
@s_martin6: In shock…imam miss u Fred R.I.P. I’m going to accomplish that plan we made bro. I promise
Sean Martin, OSU football