with Karen Farkas, Plain Dealer

EUCLID, Ohio -- Marcellis Williamson, a 23-year-old former Ohio University Bobcats defensive tackle, died Wednesday afternoon in Euclid Hospital.

The Cuyahoga County coroner's office said an autopsy will be performed today to determine what killed Williamson, who was stricken at his home on Lakeshore Boulevard in Euclid.

He was pronounced dead at 4:32 p.m.

Williamson was a starting nose guard and started all 13 games, said Jason Corriher, director of media relations for the university's athletic department. He was a fifth year player and graduated at the end of the fall quarter with a degree in recreation management. Corriher said coaches and players were stunned by his death.

"He was very well-liked, one of the leaders on the team," he said. "He had a really great personality and was devoted to being a great athlete."

Williamson was a 6-foot-1 inch, 327-pound athlete, who had played on the football team at Warrensville Heights High School.

The Athens News reported Williamson had been training to take a shot at making an NFL roster.

The newspaper said friends reported that he was taken to the hospital after having difficulty breathing.

The Post, the college newspaper, said friends believed he had suffered a heart attack.



The last post from Williamson on his

was: "