2nd Portland State Player Dies in 3 months.

[Buttegrizzle]

Talal Elmasry Report:

Once again, Portland State finds itself mourning the loss of one of its football players.

Senior Kyle Smith, a starting tackle on the offensive line, died at his downtown apartment, Vikings spokesman Mike Lund told oregonlive.com.

Smith’s death comes almost exactly three months after redshirt freshman linebacker A.J. Schlatter lost his life due to complications with tonsil surgery on Jan. 17.

No details were provided as to the cause of death. Practice was canceled on Thursday, and the team instead had a meeting.

Smith, an Elmira, Ore. native, was a three-year starter and a second-team All-Big Sky Conference performer in 2015. The Vikings went 9-3 and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs.

 

[biga75]

Very sad news. Thoughts with his family.

 

[SaskGriz]

What terrible new. Condolences to his family, friends, and team-mates. RIP

 

[Paytonlives]

Portland State offensive lineman Kyle Smith, a starting tackle from Elmira, died at his downtown apartment Wednesday evening.

Portland police said they are investigating Smith's death as a possible drug overdose.

Smith was a three-year starter and a second-team all-Big Sky Conference performer in 2015.

When police and medical personnel responded to a call at about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 2000 block of Southwest Park Avenue, they found the 22-year-old Smith dead and discovered evidence of a possible overdose, police said in a news release Thursday afternoon.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Toxicology results are expected to take several weeks, police said. Anyone who has information about Smith's death is asked to contact Officer Chris Verbout at 503-545-3481.

"I feel we have the most united, close-knit football team in America, and we just lost a major piece of that team in Kyle. Right now we have two concerns, Kyle's family and our football players," PSU coach Bruce Barnum said in a statement. "The program is being tested but we will come out of this on top."

Here is Smith's bio from the PSU athletic department website.

The Vikings canceled a scheduled Thursday practice and held a team meeting.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Kyle Smith," Director of Athletics Mark Rountree said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. I would ask the Viking family to support our student-athletes and coaches with love and caring during this difficult time. We must all must show resolve to cope with this tragedy as best we can."

Smith's death follows that of PSU linebacker AJ Schlatter, who died in January because of complications from tonsil surgery.

http://www.oregonlive.com/collegefootball/index.ssf/2016/04/portland_state_offensive_linem.html

 

[mtgrizrule]

Myself and another egrizzer were just talking about this tonight at the Missoula Brewery. This is sad. My prayers and condolences to the family and PSU.

 

[UMGriz75]

Young people make mistakes. Hard to see and accept. This kid had talent, now gone. However, the PD shouldn't have speculated about the drug overdose. Wait until the results are in. Tragedy is bad enough without feeding rumor mills that may be false.

 

[griz71]

Sad and tragic. Prayers and support to his family and teammates.

 

[krammer]

Young people make mistakes. Hard to see and accept. This kid had talent, now gone. However, the PD shouldn't have speculated about the drug overdose. Wait until the results are in. Tragedy is bad enough without feeding rumor mills that may be false.

agree with 75 on this one.....just hold off for a while....

 

[AZDoc]

Young people make mistakes. Hard to see and accept. This kid had talent, now gone. However, the PD shouldn't have speculated about the drug overdose. Wait until the results are in. Tragedy is bad enough without feeding rumor mills that may be false.

agree with 75 on this one.....just hold off for a while....

And even if it is true, how about a little respect for the family as this is not something everyone needs to know or talk about before the funeral of a young kid.