UNLV football player found dead at home; no cause released

Ohio State offensive lineman Ben Christman is seen during warm-ups before an NCAA college spring football game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Photo by Paul Vernon / AP

UNLV confirmed that football player Ben Christman died on Tuesday, the second time in two years the program has suffered such an offseason tragedy.

Christman, 21, a Kentucky transfer from Akron, Ohio, signed with the team on Feb. 5.

The UNLV athletics department released a statement on Tuesday.

“This is an extremely difficult day for our athletics department and the university community,” the statement said. “The university is providing mental health and related support services to those in need.”

No cause of death was released.

Christman was an offensive lineman who began his collegiate career with two years at Ohio State before transferring to Kentucky in 2023.

He then moved on to UNLV this offseason after being recruited by new head coach Dan Mullen. He was a 4-star recruit out of high school and was rated a top-100 offensive lineman in the transfer portal this season.

Christman had enrolled at UNLV and, according to the school’s statement, he was found at his off-campus residence.

It was almost two years ago to the week that UNLV defensive lineman Ryan Keeler died due to natural causes. Keeler, 20, was found unresponsive in his apartment on Feb. 20, 2023. His death was eventually ascribed to “cardiac dysrhythmia due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,” essentially a hardening of the heart muscle.

Christman had begun offseason workouts with the football team and had been appointed to UNLV's leadership committee.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Mullen said Christman left an impact in his short time with the team.

“Our team’s heart is broken to hear of Ben’s passing. Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed.”