Nazareth Grad Ryan Keeler Dies At 20

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – A 2021 graduate of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park who played college football died Monday, the college reported.

The player was identified as Ryan Keeler, 20, a defensive lineman for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to a university news release. The cause was not released.

Keeler had a 3.8 grade point average in pre-business, the school said. He transferred from Rutgers University last season. He played seven games in the recently completed season, the school said.

On Oct. 15, Keeler recorded his first collegiate quarterback sack versus the Air Force team, the news release said.

UNLV said Keeler garnered dozens of scholarship offers out of high school.

"While I had the honor of knowing Ryan for only a couple of months, he already stood out to our coaching staff as an incredible person, student and teammate," head coach Barry Odom said in the release.

Odom called Keeler's death a "tremendous loss," saying, "We are devastated to have lost a member of our Rebel family."

UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield offered condolences to Keeler's family, friends and teammates. ""Words are hard to come by this evening as we grieve the sudden and tragic loss," he said in a statement Monday night.

TMZ cited law enforcement sources, who said Keeler was found by a member of the UNLV football team just after 1 p.m. Monday.