Former UCF and Wisconsin commit Jake Hessock has died at the age of 25 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
According to the Orlando Sentinel , Hessock suffered a heart attack while jogging in Boston on Sunday. A bystander tried to give him CPR before he was taken to the hospital and put on life support.
According to his family’s social media posts, Hesok suffered a serious brain injury before his death.
“It is with a heavy heart that my cousin Jake has passed away,” Hescock’s cousin Lisa Waltz Mlinarchyk wrote on Facebook. “May he rest in peace and may his bright spirit shine upon us forever.”
Following the news of his death, his former teammates and coaches paid tribute to him.
“We are heartbroken to hear of Jake’s passing,” UCF head coach Gus Malzahn wrote on Twitter. “He was an incredible person who embodied what it means to be a UCF Knight. Jake was loved by all who knew him and he was a blessing to the coach. He will be greatly missed. Christy and I are praying with his entire family.”
Wisconsin’s football program — where Hescock began his collegiate career — also shared Respect on Twitter.
“I am saddened to hear of the passing of former Badger Jake Hessock. Received from us very quickly. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the post reads.
Hescock was born in Pittsfield. He has caught 21 passes in his career after the 2021 season — six of them for touchdowns.
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