Austin Peay announces death of freshman Jeremiah Collins

Tragedy struck the college football world late Friday evening, with Austin Peay State University announcing the death of freshman Jeremiah Collins.

Collins was a Louisville, Ky., native. A cause of death was not listed in a press release from Austin Peay.

“We are all devastated and heartbroken by the loss of Jeremiah Collins,” said head football coach Scotty Walden in a statement. “Jeremiah was an outstanding young man who brought an incredible attitude and energy every day. We grieve with the Collins family for their tragic loss and lift them up in prayer.”

Collins graduated from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., a member of the 2022 TSSAA 6A state championship squad. He played receiver, defensive back and returned kicks.

“All of our thoughts and prayers are with the Collins Family today,” said APSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jeremiah, and we will do everything we can to support his friends, family, and teammates at this time.”

The death of freshman Jeremiah Collins caused several to reach out offering thoughts and prayers on social media following the press release on Saturday.

Chip Kelly offers moving tribute to late assistant

The college football world has tragically lost several key figures in the last year, from Mississippi State coach Mike Leach to UCLA defensive coordinator Bill McGovern.

On Friday at Pac-12 Media Days, coach Chip Kelly offered a moving tribute to the late McGovern.

“I think the biggest thing is — and I said this at the funeral — is that man’s biggest fear isn’t death, man’s biggest fear is insignificance,” Kelly said. “And Billy wasn’t afraid because of how significant his life was and the impact that he had on so many people is that he was at peace with if this is what God has selected for me, I’m good.

“And he went out the way he wanted to go out, and it was special that I had the honor to be with him for the last 11 months of his life.”

He added, later:

“I said it at the funeral: If you want to touch the past you touch a rock, and if you want to touch the present you touch a flower, but if you want to touch a future you touch a life,” Kelly said. “And that’s what Billy did. And everybody he came in contact with him, he had the same effect on all of them.

“Good people leave a mark on everybody’s heart, and that’s what Billy did. He left a mark. He was gone too soon after 60 years, but what he did and the effect that he had on human beings is, if you can have half of that in your lifetime then you’ve lived a pretty special life.”