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Autopsy for college football player who passed away suddenly at 18 reveals stunning cause of death
The cause of death for a University of Cincinnati freshman offensive lineman who passed away in April at his residence in Ohio has been revealed.
Jeremiah Kelly - who was set to play his first season of college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats this fall - died from cardiac hypertrophy, according to documents obtained by ESPN.
Cardiac hypertrophy is a disease which enlarges the heart muscle, which sometimes leads to heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest.
Kelly's mother, Chiniqua Kelly, told the outlet that her son wore a heart monitor during workouts and that he'd been relaxing at his residence the day before his passing.
She added that Jeremiah was her 'healthiest' child and he did not have any issues before his death.
'The Cincinnati football program and athletics department continue to mourn Jeremiah's passing,' a Cincinnati spokesperson said to ESPN. 'He is deeply missed by all of us.'
The team spokesperson also said that Kelly passed a physical examination mandated by the NCAA before he participated in team activities.
Kelly enrolled at Cincinnati early and was on campus for the team's spring practices to prepare for the upcoming season.
'The Bearcats football family is heartbroken by the sudden loss of this outstanding young man,' Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield said in April.
'In the short time Jeremiah has spent with our team, he has made a real impact, both on the field and in our locker room.
'My prayers are with the Kelly family and those who had the pleasure of knowing Jeremiah.'
247Sports rated Kelly as a three-star recruit to the school as a part of their Class of 2025. Cincinnati's recruiting class was ranked 14th out of 16 in the Big XII and 61st in the nation.
Kelly - a native of Avon, Ohio - chose Cincinnati over an offer from the University of Akron.
In high school, Kelly helped lead his team to a perfect 16-0 record and a state championship in his senior year.
