Oregon State freshman defensive tackle Fred Thompson, who would have been 20 on Sunday, died tonight of an apparent heart attack at the Dixon Rec Center on the OSU campus.





Thompson enrolled winter term and was considered a grayshirt. A shoulder injury set him back in the spring, but he was in uniform late in the season and Beavers' coach Mike Riley had expressed excitement at the possibility of a healthy Thompson competing for a spot in 2012.

The 6-foot-4, 317-pound Thompson is from Richmond, Calif. and played at Oakland Tech High School.

An employee at the Dixon Rec Center declined to release any further information on Wednesday night. Thompson was apparently playing pick-up basketball when he collapsed.

A supervisor at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis said there would be no comment pending family notification.

The release from Oregon State:

There was immediate reaction on Twitter from other Oregon State athletes:

OSU basketball player Jared Cunningham: RT @J1Flight Haven't cried in a long time. (Stuff) just got too real.I was just in study hall with you last week. Rip to my bruh Fred Thompson

OSU defensive back Jordan Poyer: RT @J_Poyer14: R.I.P Fred Im really gonna miss you bro..My prayers go to you and your family

Former OSU defensive back James Dockery: RT @JamesDockery34 Man I'm just taken back right now! R.I.P. Fred..life is too short. My prayers to his family and you will be missed

RT @BrandonSprague Talked with Fred a month ago. Told him a lot of people thought he could be a BIG time player at OSU. He looked at me, smiled, wide-eyed...

...and said, "Man, just being here is a blessing. The fact that people believe in me, means everything." Tonight, I remember that big smile.

Former OSU quarterback Ryan Katz: RT @BigKatz12 Things just don't make sense sometimes....RIP Fred. Pray for his family. I'm gonna miss you man.

RT @Schalker22: RIP Fred Thompson. Didn't know you but was playing basketball with you right before it happened. Thoughts go out to you.

OSU basketball player Kevin McShane: RT @KevinMcShane0: RIP Fred Thompson. The thoughts and prayers of Beaver Nation are with you and your family tonight

And a link to another OSU trajedy in 1992,

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Paul Buker