Reed Ryan, a senior defensive end at the University of Minnesota Duluth, died unexpectedly Tuesday.
He was 22 years old.
The institution did not provide a cause of death, but according to an obituary, Ryan died of cardiac arrest on Nov. 21 while working out in the weight room with the Division II football team due to an undetected inherited heart issue.
Duluth training staff immediately gave him CPR and was then taken care of at St. Mary’s-Duluth, according to the obituary.
“Our staff and players are devastated about Reed’s passing,” UMD head coach Curt Wiese said in a statement. “Reed aspired to improve at whatever assignment he was assigned each day. With his upbeat demeanor, infectious grin, and genuine concern for those around him, he helped others bring out the best in themselves. We were lucky to have Reed on our team, and he improved our program, department, and community in a short amount of time. Reed will be deeply missed, but his legacy will last forever. He exemplified what it meant to be a UMD Bulldog, and we can all strive to be like him.
“To his family, thank you for letting us be a part of his inspiring young life. reed was a bulldog through and through
Ryan was in his first year with Duluth after spending his first three seasons with North Dakota State, where he recorded four total tackles over eight games.
He was twice given the Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
“Our team had a bunch of heavy hearts yesterday,” North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz said Wednesday, according to the Star Tribune. “Bison nation is thinking of [Ryan’s family].”
In his one year with Duluth, Ryan excelled with a career-high eight total tackles, two of which went for a loss.
Duluth’s athletics department lauded the high character Ryan, a Wisconsin native, displayed on and off the field.
