{"id":3249,"date":"2026-06-08T21:36:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T21:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3249"},"modified":"2026-06-08T21:36:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T21:36:34","slug":"kentucky-defensive-lineman-nic-smith-dies-at-age-20-school-says-no-foul-play-suspected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=3249","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky defensive lineman Nic Smith dies at age 20. School says no foul play suspected"},"content":{"rendered":"

LEXINGTON, Ky. \u2014 Kentucky defensive lineman Nic Smith has died at age 20, the school announced Monday.<\/p>\n

Read more Falcons QB Michael Penix progressing on schedule in ACL rehab<\/a><\/p>\n

School spokesman Jay Blanton said the University of Kentucky Police Department received a call Monday at 10:03 a.m. reporting that a student had been found dead in a residence hall. The university announced Smith\u2019s death in a statement later in the day.<\/p>\n

Blanton said the police department was working with the Lexington-Fayette County Coroner, and an initial investigation did not indicate that foul play was involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday our hearts are broken,\u201d Kentucky coach Will Stein said. \u201cOur thoughts and prayers are with Nic\u2019s family, friends, teammates and everyone who knew and loved him. This is a tremendous loss for our program and university community. We will continue to support one another and honor his memory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Cura\u00e7ao, one of soccer\u2019s smallest nations, prepares for its first World Cup<\/a><\/p>\n

Smith, who redshirted last season, was a sophomore in the community leadership and development program in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. His nicknames were \u201cHappy\u201d and \u201cBig Happ,\u201d according to his biography page on the Kentucky athletic department\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

He played football and basketball at Walnut Grove High School in Loganville, Georgia.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP college football: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/ap-top-25-college-football-poll<\/a> and https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/college-football<\/a><\/p>\n

Read more Injured US defender Chris Richards goes through full practice in boost for World Cup availability<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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