Oregon State Freshman Football Player Fred Thompson Dies

Oregon State Freshman Football Player Fred Thompson Dies
John Nestor

Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University freshman defensive tackle Fred Thompson died early Wednesday evening in Corvallis.

According to OSU officials, Thompson was playing basketball at Dixon Recreation Center on the OSU campus when he collapsed.

The 19-year-old Thompson was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis where he was pronounced dead. Thompson was a true freshman from Richmond, Calif.

The school's athletic department officials said the OSU community sends its thoughts and prayers to Fred's family.

Beavers head football coach Mike Riley was on an off-campus recruiting and was en route to Corvallis on Wednesday night.

Oregon State is scheduled to hold a press conference in the Gill Coliseum media room at a to-be-announced time Thursday. 

The school issued no other comment but Oregon State cornerback Jordan Poyer posted on Twitter: "R.I.P Fred Im really gonna miss you bro. My prayers go to you and your family."

Thompson, who would have turned 20 on Sunday, enrolled at Oregon State for the winter term and was considered a grayshirt. He was hampered by a shoulder injury  in the spring, but he was in uniform late in the season and Riley expected a healthy Thompson to compete for a starting spot in 2012.