Northern Iowa tight end Parker Sutherland has tragically died, UNI announced Saturday. Sutherland, an 18-year-old Iowa City native, was entering his sophomore season with the Panthers.
Details surrounding Sutherland’s death are sparse as of publication. A cause of death has yet to be announced. However, Cedar Falls public safety, fire and emergency medical services rushed to the football complex Thursday afternoon under the reasoning of “unconscious/fainting/non trauma,” according to The Athletic.
Sutherland appeared in four games as a UNI freshman after an impressive high school career. At Iowa City High, he earned All-District and All-Conference honors twice and landed second-team All-State as a senior. According to his UNI bio, he had a sister, Georgia, and enjoyed video games, movies, pickleball and Legos.
In a statement shared with Iowa news personality Keith Murphy, UNI coach Todd Stepsis said Sutherland represents everything he looks for in a recruit. Stepsis explained that “Parker hits every quality and characteristic out of the park” with regards to talent, character, attitude and toughness.
“Parker embodied everything we look for in a UNI Football Panther,” Stepsis said in a UNI athletics statement. “His talent and potential excited us on a daily basis, but it failed to compare to the type of person and teammate he was. His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of. While I’m saddened that our time together was short, we will celebrate the bright light that he brought to our football team for the rest of our lives.”
“It is a heartbreaking day for our Panther Athletics family with the passing of our Parker Sutherland. He embraced the opportunity to play Panther football and represent the University through sport,” UNI athletic director Megan Franklin added. “We are devastated – just devastated. The blessing is that we have a Panther family who will hold the Sutherland family, our football team, and our athletics staff close as we grieve.”
Sutherland will be missed.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Parker Sutherland cause of death: What we know about Northern Iowa TE
