Mississippi State football player dies at the age of 19

Mississippi State University football player Samuel Westmoreland has died at the age of 19 on Wednesday.

“The Mississippi State Athletics Family is heartbroken by the sudden death of Sam Westmoreland.,” MSU Head Coach Mike Leach said. Sam was a beloved son, brother and teammate, and a tremendous young man with a limitless future. He will always be remembered and deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him. The entire MSU Family mourns as our thoughts and prayers go out to the Westmoreland family. Our highest priority is the support of the Westmoreland family and our student-athletes during this troubling time.”

Westmoreland is a 2022 Tupelo High School graduate who was majoring in industrial technology.

The School is cooperating with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office, the Oktibbeha County Coroner’s Office, the MSU Division of Student Affairs, and the MSU Athletics Department to determine what happened to Westmoreland.