Jeremiah Kelly, a freshman offensive lineman at the University of Cincinnati and standout high school football player from Avon, Ohio, died unexpectedly at his residence early Tuesday morning. He was 18 years old.
The university and Cincinnati police have not released an official cause of death. However, according to a
GoFundMe page created to support his family, Kelly tragically "passed away unexpectedly in his sleep."
Kelly had recently joined the Bearcats as an early enrollee and was participating in spring practice.
“The Bearcats football family is heartbroken by the sudden loss of this outstanding young man,” said head coach Scott Satterfield. “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.”
John Cunningham, Cincinnati's athletic director, expressed the school’s grief: “We’ve suffered a heartbreaking loss today. 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.”
Kelly stood 6'3" and weighed 320 pounds. He had a dominant high school career at Avon High School, where he helped lead the Eagles to an undefeated 16-0 season and the school’s first state championship in 2024. He earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors, and was named Southwestern Conference Lineman of the Year.
The loss has deeply affected both the Cincinnati and Avon communities. Avon City Schools Superintendent Billy Hodge informed families and staff in a letter on Tuesday:
“It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the death of an Avon student Jeremiah Kelly. Jeremiah was a senior at our high school. As we know from past tragedies, no words can console or explain what the student’s family and our Eagles must be experiencing.”
Support services have been made available for students, with the Avon High School football stadium open until 5 p.m. Tuesday for those wishing to gather in Kelly’s memory. School counselors and crisis teams are on hand to support students and staff.
Jeremiah Kelly’s passing has left a profound void among those who knew him, both in his hometown and at the University of Cincinnati.
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap. The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment