The freshman is an offensive lineman for the MSU Bulldog football team.
Samuel Westmoreland, an attacking midfielder on the MSU Bulldogs soccer team and a major in industrial technology, has died. The school said Wednesday. he is 18 years old.
The university has not released the cause or details of Westmoreland’s death. In a statement, the university said it was “working with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office, Oktibbeha County Coroner’s Office. MSU Student Affairs Department, and MSU Athletics Department to establish the facts of this incident.”
Westmoreland is from Tupelo, Mississippi and graduated from Tupelo High School. MSU head coach Mike Leach paid tribute to the athlete on Twitter.
“The Mississippi State track and field family mourns the sudden death of Sam Westmoreland,” he wrote.
“Sam is a beloved son, brother also teammate aslo a great young man with an unlimited future,” continued Coach Leach. “All who knew and loved him will always remember him and miss him very much.” MSU President Mark E. Keenum also shared his thoughts in the school’s statement. “One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned from leading this great university is that the tragic loss of one of our students weakens all of our students. Also all of us in the state of Mississippi are feeling the impact of Sam Westmoreland’s death,” he said.
“My prayers are with Sam’s family and friends, his teammates also coaches at MSU, and the Tupelo community at this most difficult time.”