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Cal football player Ted Agu dies at 21

A member of the Cal Golden Bears football team, Ted Agu, died Friday morning. Both the San Jose Mercury-News and San Francisco Chronicle reported that Agu collapsed during a conditioning run.

According to the Mercury News, the football office confirmed Agu’s death in an email to parents. The University later confirmed the death in a statement.

Agu, a junior, was a backup defensive end for the Bears who played in seven of Cal’s 12 games and registered six tackles in the 2013 season. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Agu was a public health major at Cal and a native of Bakersfield, Calif.

The University’s statement, in full, reads:

At this time, we are deeply saddened to inform you that Ted Agu, one of our student-athletes and a member of our football team, passed away tragically this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ted’s family and friends, our players and coaches, and our University family. Our student-athletes are our priority and we are providing counseling services for our players. Please bear with us as we work to inform personally those closest to Ted; we will provide more information as it becomes available.

“This is a very difficult time for our football family,” said Sonny Dykes, Head Football Coach. “Ted was a remarkable young man and a member of this family who was highly respected and loved by his teammates and coaching staff. He had an incredible passion for life and will be deeply missed.”

Athletics Director, Sandy Barbour, said, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to Ted’s family. This is a very painful time for the entire Cal family; in the days and weeks ahead, my focus will be on providing every member of our community the support and information they need to get through this time. I would ask that media please respect and understand how this tragedy is impacting Ted’s family, his teammates, friends and the members of our campus community. We will get through this together.”

Agu was just 21 years old.

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