Western Carolina DB dies after workout
July 9, 2009
CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP)—A junior defensive back at Western Carolina has diedafter participating in a voluntary offseason workout.
Western Carolina spokesman Daniel Hooker says Ja’Quayvin Smalls collapsedWednesday and was pronounced dead about 7:30 p.m. at Harris Regional Hospital inSylva.
The school says he collapsed while running during an evening workoutsession. Observers said Smalls had complained of cramps at the beginning ofsprint exercises and had been removed from the lineup to stretch.
The workout was the first for Smalls, who enrolled in Western Carolina’ssummer school. He had transferred from Georgia Military College, where he rankedsecond in tackles.
Athletic director Chip Smith says Smalls’ death was especially tragic, sincehe was so young.
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