What to Know
- Hammonds caught 14 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in four games during the 2019 season
A football player who grew up in Miami died Tuesday while practicing with his college team in central Florida.
Officials from Warner University say senior wide receiver Theodore "Boobie" Hammonds, who played at Carol City High School, collapsed during a non-contact drill at the school's campus near Lake Wales. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
The cause of death has not been determined.
Hammonds caught 14 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in four games during the 2019 season – adding to the 25 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns during his junior season in 2018. He was supposed to participate in the NFL Combine in December for a chance at his dream job with the league and to provide for his family.
His father, Theodore Hammonds Sr., remembered who he was off the field.
"He'll give you the shirt off his back," Hammonds Sr. said. "He's always trying to motivate and uplift everybody around him."
Warner University President Dr. David Hoag said in a statement Wednesday that the university was "deeply saddened" by the loss of Hammonds.
"Warner University places the highest priority on the health and safety of its students and student athletes. Certified athletic trainers were on hand at the time that the athlete collapsed and provided immediate emergency care. The cause of Theo's collapse and ultimate death are not currently known, and it would be inappropriate to speculate regarding the cause of death at this time," Hoag's statement read. "On behalf of Warner University and our faculty, staff, coaches and trainers, we offer our deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers to Theo's family, friends and teammates in this difficult and uncertain time. We are devastated by his passing."
Family members have set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses.
