NFL Draft Hopeful Dead At 25

AJ Simon, a star defensive lineman for the Albany Great Danes, hoping to be selected in the 2024 NFL draft, has died at 25.

In a statement, Albany shared, “The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral ‘AJ’ Simon this morning.”

Simon, who averaged just over 12 sacks last season, was selected to the 2023  All-CAA first-team defensive team.

The cause of Simon’s death is currently unknown.

Tragic: 2024 #NFL draft prospect AJ Simon has tragically passed away, reportedly due to heart attack.

💔💔💔

AJ was a pass rusher at University at Albany and had dreams of being drafted this year. He was just 25-years-old. pic.twitter.com/fQy4SHPxr7

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 17, 2024

ESPN had more to add:

Former Albany defensive lineman AJ Simon, who was hoping to be selected in next week’s NFL draft, has died at the age of 25, the school announced Wednesday.

The cause of Simon’s death wasn’t immediately known.

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“The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral ‘AJ’ Simon this morning,” Albany said in a statement posted to X. “AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. He was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years.”

Simon, who had 12.5 sacks last season for Albany, was ranked as the 448th prospect in the latest NFL draft rankings from ESPN’s Matt Miller.

Simon, a 2023 All-CAA first-team defensive selection, was from Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. He played the past two seasons for Albany after beginning his collegiate career at Bloomsburg University.

Former Albany defensive end AJ Simon has tragically passed away at just 25 years old.

Simon was a 2024 NFL Draft prospect with hopes of being drafted. Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/QvhqWcH3Kj

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) April 17, 2024

AJ Simon, ex-Albany star and 2024 NFL Draft hopeful, dead at 25 https://t.co/u3rajnknN3 pic.twitter.com/oYsy9uMcr0

— New York Post (@nypost) April 17, 2024

Per TMZ:

Former Albany defensive lineman AJ Simon, who was hoping to get picked in the upcoming NFL Draft, has died at only 25 years old.

The university announced the tragic news on social media on Wednesday, writing … “The UAlbany football program was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former student-athlete Amitral “AJ” Simon this morning.”

“AJ was a tremendous young man and even better teammate throughout his time at UAlbany. he was a role model both on and off the field, serving as a pillar to this program over the last two years.”

They continued … “He will be profoundly missed.” The cause or manner of Simon’s death is not currently known.

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