A college football player in Arkansas reportedly suddenly collapsed over the weekend and died a short time later. He was only 21-years-old.
In a message shared on Twitter Sunday from the official account of Ouachita Baptist University, the school announced the heartbreaking news that Clark Yarbrough had tragically died. No other details about a cause of the defensive lineman’s death have been released.
“Today the Ouachita community mourns the loss of senior Clark Yarbrough, who died this morning following a sudden collapse,” the statement from the University read. “Join us in praying for his family and friends. More information about campus gatherings following this tragedy will be released soon.”
A message on the school’s website explained that after the player collapsed, immediate emergency assistance was provided by the school followed by emergency responders. He was then transported Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia where he was later pronounced dead.
Today the Ouachita community mourns the loss of senior Clark Yarbrough, who died this morning following a sudden collapse. Join us in praying for his family and friends. More information about campus gatherings following this tragedy will be released soon. pic.twitter.com/ePaiYphwN0
— Ouachita Baptist University (@Ouachita) September 4, 2022
On the message shared by the school in Yarbrough’s honor, they called the late player a humble leader and more.
“Clark was an exemplary student – academically, athletically and spiritually,” Dr. Rickey Rogers, vice president for student development at Ouachita shared. “He held strongly to his Christian faith, and it was evident in the way he lived his life and led his fellow students.”
His head coach, Todd Knight, said Clark was “that kind of young man, always thinking and preparing for what’s next.”
“He wanted to be an athletic director and was already making plans for internships and graduate school,” Coach Knight shared, as he explained that the late football player lived out his favorite Bible verse, James 4:10. It says that, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
One of Yarbrough’s teammate’s, Jason Jackson, called the Tigers player “a special kind of guy” who always made him feel welcome.
He also shared that Clark was “a real brother in Christ at a brand-new university where, at first, I felt like I was all alone. Clark was my first friend when I got here, and I will cherish him forever.”
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