Georgia Tech Football

The Broward Medical Examiner's Office ruled Tuesday that the death of Georgia Tech football recruit Bryce Gowdy on Monday was a suicide. 

According to Brooke Baitinger, Cindy Krischer Goodman and Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Gowdy's mother, Shibbon Winelle, said in a Facebook video message that her son's behavior leading up to his death concerned her.

Winelle said Gowdy was "talking crazy" and "talking in circles," and that he began acting "paranoid." She noted that Gowdy was struggling with the fact that his family was homeless and living out of a car and a hotel room. Winelle also said Gowdy asked her if his brothers would be OK once he left for college.

Gowdy was found dead early Monday morning near train tracks in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and it was determined he deliberately put himself in position to get hit by the freight train.

Gowdy was a star wide receiver at Deerfield Beach High School and rated a 4-star prospect by 247Sports. He ranked as the No. 310 overall player, No. 54 wideout and No. 54 player from the state of Florida in the 2020 class.

Gowdy, 17, tweeted the following on Dec. 29 in anticipation of making the leap to Georgia Tech:

Per ESPN's Andrea Adelson, Georgia Tech head football coach Geoff Collins released a statement following Gowdy's death:

"Our entire Georgia Tech football family is devastated by the news of Bryce's passing. Bryce was an outstanding young man with a very bright future. He was a great friend to many, including many of our current and incoming team members. On behalf of our coaches, players, staff and families, we offer our deepest condolences to Bryce's mother, Shibbon, and his brothers, Brisai and Brayden, as well as the rest of his family members, his teammates and coaches at Deerfield Beach High School, and his many friends. Bryce and his family will always be a part of the Georgia Tech football family."

High school wide receiver and Georgia Tech signee Bryce Gowdy died Monday, the school confirmed. 

According to ESPN's Andrea Adelson, Gowdy was hit by a freight train in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The Broward County medical examiner's office ruled his death a suicide on Tuesday.

Yellow Jackets head coach Geoff Collins issued a statement regarding Gowdy's death:

Gowdy, a 4-star recruit, was the No. 54 receiver in the 2020 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and a star for Deerfield Beach High School.

Deerfield Beach head coach Jevon Glenn told the Miami Herald's Jason Dill the 17-year-old was preparing to travel to Georgia Tech later in the week. Gowdy tweeted Sunday that he "can't wait to get to the ATL soon!"

Glenn added that Gowdy's impact went beyond the field: "He was a great kid. The hardest working and most caring people. He really cared about others. He cared about others' success, team success more so than his. ... All-around great kid."

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Brandon Adams died Saturday, the school announced.

"Our entire Georgia Tech football family is heartbroken by the news of Brandon’s passing," head coach Geoff Collins said in a statement. "In the short time that I have had the privilege and honor of knowing Brandon, I admired and respected him, first and foremost as a terrific human being, but also as an outstanding teammate and leader."

Adams, 21, played three years for Georgia Tech. He had 41 total tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 33 games.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Ken Sugiura praised Adams, describing him as "a force in the interior, often requiring double-teams to keep him from pushing centers into the pocket." Sugiura added that the Brentwood, Tennessee, native was one of the top Yellow Jackets to watch during the team's spring practices.