Utah freshman running back Ty Jordan dies

University of Utah freshman running back Ty Jordan has died, the university announced Saturday via Twitter. He was 19.

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The Pac-12 Conference′s Offensive Freshman of the Year, Jordan rushed for 597 yards with six touchdowns in five games for the Utes. He was from Mesquite, Texas, and attended West Mesquite High School.

Law enforcement officials have yet to confirm reports of Jordan’s cause of death, although a post on the Denton Police Department’s Facebook page Saturday mentioned an accidental shooting that left one person dead overnight, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The original call went out Friday at 9:38 p.m. CST. Officers found a victim with a single gunshot wound who was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the newspaper reported.

Jordan’s cousin, Leilani Buckley-Awadjihe, also posted news of Jordan’s death on her Facebook page, KSTU reported.

“Following a preliminary investigation, we do believe that this was an accidental shooting, where the victim accidentally shot himself,” Denton Police Department public information officer Allison Beckwith told ESPN.

“Words cannot express the devastation and heartache that our team is feeling right now upon learning of the tragic death of our teammate and brother, Ty Jordan,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement. “Ty’s personality and smile were infectious and he made a huge impact on our program in the short time he was with us. He leaves an indelible mark on each of us and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. From the bottom of our hearts, all of us in the Utah Football Family want to say we love you Ty and may you rest in peace.”

Jordan, who had 723 all-purpose yards, took over the starting job in the third game of the season and rushed for 468 yards and six touchdowns in his final three games against Oregon State, Colorado and Washington State, KTVX reported.

In his final game, Jordan rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns as Utah erased a 21-point deficit to win, 45-28, the television station reported. He was the first Utah freshman to have three consecutive 100-yard rushing games since 1995.

Jordan’s head coach at West Mesquite, Jeff Neill, told The Dallas Morning News in a text message: “We are all so saddened at the news this morning. His smile was infectious and his spirit shined bright on everyone that knew him. We all loved Ty.”

Jordan was a football and track star in high school. He had 13 games with at least 100 yards rushing, finishing his career with 2,589 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns, the Morning News reported. He was also named Co-District 7-5A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked to learn of Ty Jordan’s passing early this morning and our thoughts and prayers are with those who loved him dearly, including the young men in our football program,” Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said in a statement. “Our priority is on supporting his family and the student-athletes, coaches and staff in our football program who are so deeply hurting right now. Coach Whittingham and I are working closely to provide support and resources for our Utah Football family in this extremely difficult time.”

In November 2019, a photograph of Jordan and an opposing player from Sherman High School went viral, ESPN reported. After Sherman High’s 56-27 victory against West Mesquite High, Sherman’s Gage Smith asked Jordan if they could kneel and pray together. Smith had learned that Jordan’s mother, Tiffany Jordan, was battling Stage 4 lung and bone cancer.

Jordan’s aunt posted photos of the moment to Facebook.

“It made me cry,” Tiffany Jordan told Today.com at the time. “(Smith) didn’t have to do that. The fact that he took the time to pray with Ty for me, that took my breath away.”

Tiffany Jordan died in August, according to a tweet by Ty Jordan. She was 43, ESPN reported.

Some of Jordan’s Utah teammates expressed their sorrow on Twitter, including linebacker Devin Lloyd, who tweeted, “RIP my brotha I know you’re in a better place.”

Cox Media Group