SC college football player dies after ‘medical emergency’ at workout
Update: The Furman football program announced late Friday afternoon that Bryce Stanfield died earlier Friday after suffering a medical emergency early Wednesday morning during an on-campus workout. He was 21 years old. Head coach Clay Hendrix said in a statement the program was “heartbroken.” Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
A member of the Furman football team has been hospitalized after suffering a “medical emergency” at a workout Wednesday morning on campus.
Bryce Stanfield, a junior defensive tackle and health sciences major from Acworth, Georgia, “suffered a medical emergency while attending an early Wednesday morning workout in Paladin Stadium and is now hospitalized,” according to a Wednesday afternoon news release from the program.
“The thoughts and prayers of Furman’s entire football program and university community are with Bryce and his family at this time,” Furman coach Clay Hendrix said in the release.
No other details regarding Stanfield’s hospitalization were immediately available. The State reached out to a Furman spokesman seeking further information.
Stanfield was “in critical condition and on life support” at a local hospital, according to a campus-wide email sent by Furman President Elizabeth Davis on Wednesday afternoon and obtained by The State. “Bryce’s parents are with him and have requested our prayers,” according to the email.
According a Feb. 1 news release, Furman was scheduled to kick off its spring practice schedule Thursday (Feb. 8) at 4 p.m. at Paladin Stadium. It’s unclear whether or not that’ll be delayed after the news of Stanfield’s hospitalization.
Paladin Stadium is the on-campus home venue for Furman’s football team and located in Greenville. Furman, a private school, plays football at the Division I FCS level, the second highest in college football behind Division I FBS.
Stanfield has played three seasons for the Paladins and had 13 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2023 for a Furman team that went 10-3 and won its conference championship. The team also advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs in Hendrix’s seventh season as coach.
This story was originally published February 7, 2024 at 4:45 PM.
