Jamain Stephens' Family Says He Died of Blood Clot Following COVID-19 Diagnosis
Sep 15, 2020
The logo is shown on the goalpost of the NCAA First Responder Bowl college football game between Western Kentucky and Western Michigan in Dallas, Monday, Dec. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
The family of Jermain Stephens, the Division II offensive lineman who died earlier this month, says he died of a blood clot to his heart after contracting COVID-19.
Stephens' mother, Kelly Allen, told Nikki Battiste of CBS Sports that she's worried about the young athletes who are returning to their campuses for fall sports.
"I'm very, very nervous for these young men and women. ... These kids, their lives are priceless. And it's just not worth it. It's not worth it," Allen said.
Stephens played football at California University of Pennsylvania, which suspended its fall sports calendar in July. It is unclear how he contracted COVID-19, which has killed more than 195,000 people and infected more than 6.6 million in the United States, but Allen said Stephens returned to campus to work out with his teammates. The school is not conducting official workouts.
Heart issues are among the many complications of the novel coronavirus, which can have long-lasting effects even in the event of non-fatal infections.
Stephens' family is offering a warning of the potential complications facing student-athletes, as the Big Ten and Pac-12 reconsider their decision to postpone the 2020 fall season and several other major conferences continue play. LSU coach Ed Orgeron told reporters Tuesday that he thinks that "most" of his team has had COVID-19.
"Sports give us a release. Right. You know, it gives us freedom from all of this drama...we are not in a state of mind with it all to make the right decision," Stephens' father, Jamain Stephens, said. "And as you know, we're sitting here right now talking about the loss of my son because we took the risk."
College Football DL Jamain Stephens Dies at Age 20
Sep 9, 2020
Kicking footballs are seen in a bag during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Maryland and Howard, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Jamain Stephens, a defensive lineman at California University of Pennsylvania, died Tuesday at age 20.
The school issued an official statement on Stephens' death: "California University of Pennsylvania is saddened to learn of the death of Jamain Stephens, a business administration major and a senior on the football team. Cal U mourns the loss and extends its condolences to his family and friends."
Central Catholic, Stephens' high school in Pittsburgh, initially believed he died from COVID-19 complications, though it stated Wednesday it "mistakenly attributed his death without official confirmation on cause," per Brad Everettof the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"Jamain was such a wonderful student with a smile on his face every time you saw him," Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe said in the school's release. "His personality was contagious and he made such a positive impact on everyone he met."
Stephens graduated from Central Catholic in 2017 and was heading into his senior year at Cal U, per Everett.
He appeared in 32 games for the Vulcans in three seasons.
