{"id":2613166,"date":"2026-06-10T19:07:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T23:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/20-year-old-sec-football-player-found-dead-on-campus\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T19:09:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T23:09:25","slug":"20-year-old-sec-football-player-found-dead-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/20-year-old-sec-football-player-found-dead-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"20-Year-Old SEC Football Player Found Dead on Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F20-year-old-sec-football-player-found-dead-on-campus%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2613166&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Nicholas Smith, a 20-year-old defensive lineman for the University of Kentucky, was found dead in his residence hall on Monday morning. Kentucky officials confirmed his death, and head coach will Stein said the program and university community are devastated, offering condolences to Smith\u2019s family, friends, and teammates. Campus police said they received the call at 10:03 a.m. and are coordinating with the Lexington-Fayette County Coroner; investigators have not found evidence suggesting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-taps-ex-colleague-of-hunter-bidens-lawyer-to-temporarily-run-doj-criminal-division\/\" title=\"Biden Taps Ex-Colleague Of Hunter Biden\u2019s Lawyer To Temporarily Run DOJ Criminal Division\">foul play<\/a>,though the cause of death has not yet been determined.  <\/p>\n<p>smith had also played basketball in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/despite-insistence-by-democrat-politicians-and-medical-elites-empirical-evidence-does-not-conclusively-show-that-masks-reduce-the-spread-of-covid\/\" title=\"Despite Insistence by Democrat Politicians and Medical Elites, Empirical ... DOES NOT Conclusively Show that Masks Reduce the Spread of COVID\">high school<\/a> and was a football recruit who chose Kentucky over an offer from Georgia Tech. He was redshirted as a freshman and was preparing for his sophomore season while aiming for a future in the NFL and eventually starting his own food business. His mother posted a message urging others to hold their children tighter and check on them. Smith is survived by his parents and six siblings.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A defensive lineman for the University of Kentucky football program, Nicholas Smith, was found dead on campus Monday at the age of 20.<\/p>\n<p>The school\u2019s athletic department confirmed his passing, and head coach Will Stein issued a statement, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsbtv.com\/news\/local\/nic-smith-loganville-native-kentucky-football-player-dies-20\/FPIDRR2U5JBEDACU4MPAWSHQJA\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to WSB-TV.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday our hearts are broken. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nic\u2019s family, friends, teammates, and everyone who knew and loved him,\u201d Stein wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a tremendous loss for our program and university community. We will continue to support one another and honor his memory.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Today our hearts are broken. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nic\u2019s family, friends, teammates and everyone who knew and loved him.<\/p>\n<p>This is a tremendous loss for our program and university community. We will continue to support one another and honor his memory. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Eaz5AIxyU2\">pic.twitter.com\/Eaz5AIxyU2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Will Stein (@CoachWillStein) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CoachWillStein\/status\/2064074180853727550?\">June 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Smith was found in his room by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cornell-professor-invents-critical-race-theory-watchdog-site\/\" title=\"Cornell Professor Invents Critical Race Theory Watchdog Site\">campus police<\/a> Monday morning.<\/p>\n<p>School spokesman Jay Blanton said the University of Kentucky Police Department received a call at 10:03 a.m., saying that a student was dead inside one of the residence halls, ESPN <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/college-football\/story\/_\/id\/49003244\/kentucky-dl-nic-smith-dies-age-20-no-foul-play-suspected\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Blanton said the police are currently coordinating with the Lexington-Fayette County Coroner, adding that their investigation has yet to reveal any evidence of foul play.<\/p>\n<p>The cause of death, however, has yet to be determined.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to football, Smith also played basketball for Walnut Grove High School in Walton County. He was offered the chance to play football at Georgia Tech, but turned them down in favor of the Wildcats.<\/p>\n<p>He was redshirted for his freshman year and was headed into his sophomore season, with dreams of advancing to the National Football League and one day owning his own food business, <a href=\"https:\/\/ukathletics.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/player\/nicholas-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to his team biography page.<\/p>\n<p>His nicknames were \u201cHappy\u201d and \u201cBig Happ.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHold your children tighter kiss them tell them you love them check on them everyday,\u201d Smith\u2019s mother, Genedra Smalls, reportedly wrote on her page after his death. \u201cThank you for those who have reached out who heard the news thank you for your support and your prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Smith is survived by his parents and six siblings.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >highly engaged readers<\/a>, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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