Collegiate Soccer Player Dies After Going Into Cardiac Arrest

Mercer University men’s soccer player Baba Agbaje passed away Monday night after collapsing on a field during a pickup game earlier that day.

“We’re heartbroken over Baba’s passing, and our hearts go out to his family and loved ones,” men’s soccer head coach Brad Ruzzo said.

“He was an incredible person who embodied what it means to be a Mercer Bear. Everyone who knew Baba loved him, and he was a blessing to coach. He will be greatly missed.”

According to reports, Agbaje collapsed on a field at the Outdoor Recreation Complex and went into cardiac arrest.

The senior from Fayetteville, Georgia reportedly died in the hospital at 7:48 p.m.

Mercer Mourns the Passing of Men's Soccer Student-Athlete Baba Agbaje

🗞️: https://t.co/XMIULcgNq3 pic.twitter.com/HLERaWCAfu

— Mercer Men's Soccer (@Mercer_MSoccer) April 11, 2023

https://twitter.com/David83823494/status/1645775564479901696

The Mercer Cluster reported details of Agbaje’s tragic death:

Babatunde “Baba” Agbaje ’23 of Fayetteville died Monday night, according to the university. He was a member of the Mercer soccer team and finance student in the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business.

Agbaje, 21, was playing a pickup game Monday afternoon when he collapsed on a field at the Outdoor Recreation Complex and went into cardiac arrest, Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones told 13WMAZ. He was transported via ambulance to Atrium Health Navicent, where he was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m.

The cause of death has not been determined, an email from the university states. An autopsy is planned.

From Mercer:

“Baba has been a valued member of the Mercer student-athlete community over the last four years,” said Athletic Director Jim Cole. “His coaches and teammates are obviously hurting, and we are focused on providing support to the family and to the team. The entire Mercer family is in mourning tonight. This hurts, but we will lean on each other in the coming days.”

Baba joined the men’s soccer program with his brother, Salam, in the 2019 season. He made four starts in 18 appearances for the team. He recorded an assist in his first-ever start against Winthrop in September 2021. Baba was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Prior to coming to Mercer, Baba helped lead McIntosh HS to the 2017 and 2019 GHSA 5A State Championships and was named the 2019 Fayette County Boy’s Co-Player of the Year by Fayette County News.

“Our hearts go out to the Agbaje family on their tragic loss and ask the Mercer family to keep them in their thoughts and prayers,” said Mercer President William D. Underwood. “Baba was an outstanding student, having been named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll, and was a valued teammate to other members of the soccer team. Words cannot convey the extent of our sadness over Baba’s passing.”

It’s highly doubtful that the elephant in the room will be answered regarding another tragic death of a young, healthy athlete.

The elephant in the room being if the deceased individual received the experimental COVID-19 shot, which is well-known to cause cardiac-related side effects.

Mercer University announced in December 2021 that 87% of its students received the experimental shot.

The university did not require, but “strongly encouraged” students to receive the shot (students in health science programs with clinical experiences had an unlawful COVID-19 jab mandate).

From Mercer:

As we finish the fall semester, I want to thank each of you for your continued efforts to combat the coronavirus. Nearly 98% of our faculty and staff and over 87% of our students have been vaccinated. We have seen very few positive cases of COVID-19 on our campuses over the past several weeks. I could not be prouder of how the Mercer community has navigated the pandemic, and we all can look forward to an engaging and productive spring semester.

The COVID-19 Spring 2022 plans will be posted on the website soon. Here are major elements of the spring plans:

• Students are not required, but strongly encouraged, to be vaccinated in order to attend classes in the spring semester. However, students in health science programs with clinical experiences are required to be vaccinated in order to complete program and licensure requirements.