New Brockton High School freshman Semaj Wilkins, 14, tragically passed away after collapsing during football practice on Tuesday in Alabama.
Today.com reported that the incident happened around 4:30 p.m. while the team was going through warmups.
Just recently, he updated his Facebook profile with a photo of himself proudly wearing his new high school football uniform.
“He said, ‘No, I want to go out for football. Mama, I can hit ‘em, I can hit ‘em.’ … He just had a love for sports, period,” his mother, Regena Johnson-Adams, shared with WDHN-TV. She added that her son also had a passion for baseball and basketball.
Temperatures in the area reached 96 degrees Tuesday afternoon, according to National Weather Service data.
Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham reported that Wilkins experienced a medical emergency on the field and received CPR before being transported to the hospital.
“I panicked. I grabbed everything I could think of and ran out. … When I got to the field, I was devastated because they wouldn’t let me get to my baby,” Adams told WDHN after receiving the call about the incident.
Woodham noted that the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences will perform an autopsy, though it could take several weeks for the results. The cause of death remains unknown.
Woodham mentioned that Wilkins collapsed earlier in practice and suggested a potential underlying medical condition. However, he emphasized, “We will not make a determination until we have the final report.”
New Brockton High School will hold a vigil on Friday night at the football stadium to remember Wilkins and honor his mother.
“Semaj was a young man who brought joy and inspiration to his peers, teammates, coaches, and faculty members. His loss will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him,” wrote Coffee County Schools Superintendent Kelly Cobb in a statement on Facebook.
