Cincinnati defensive lineman Jeremiah Kelly unexpectedly passes away

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Jeremiah Kelly unexpectedly passed way at his residence on Tuesday, the school announced. He was an early enrollee who practiced with the football team this spring semester. 

“The Bearcats football family is heartbroken by the sudden loss of this outstanding young man,” said football head coach Scott Satterfield stated, via press release. “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.”

Kelly played high school football at Avon (Avon, OH), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1669 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

“We’ve suffered a heartbreaking loss today,” added Director of Athletics John Cunningham. “All of us at UC send our love and prayers to the Kelly family and we will do everything that we can to support them and our Bearcats student-athletes in the difficult days and weeks ahead.”

The thoughts and prayers of the college football world are with Jeremiah Kelly’s family and friends, and the Cincinnati Bearcats program as a whole, as they mourn their immense loss.

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It’s evident Jeremiah Kelly was revered by his teammates. He graduated from Avon High School, where he helped lead the Eagles to a 16-0 record and the school’s first state championship in 2024. He put all the praise on his teammates though at the time, instead of taking the credit.

“How I look at is that you get as much out of football as you put into it,” Kelly said, via Travis Nelson of The Morning Journal. “I put a lot of time, hard work and effort in it. So has the team to even be able to make it this far because I wouldn’t be able to do it by myself. We have great coaches and I have great teammates.

“To be able to play in the state championship is a great honor. It’s also a great honor for me personally to play at the highest level of D-I. I’m just blessed to be able to do both of those things.”

Avon High School and the Cincinnati Bearcats were proud to have Jeremiah Kelly on their squad, and it isn’t hard to see why. His spirit will certainly live on in the lives of those he touched, through football and life in general.