GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota Athletics Department and the UND football program mourn the passing of former linebacker Travis O'Neel, who has passed away due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Thailand.

O'Neel, originally from Eden Prairie, Minn., played at UND from 1997 through 2001 and was a member of the school's NCAA Division II national championship team as a senior.

"The entire UND football family is sadded by this news," said head football coach Bubba Schweigert, who was O'Neel's defensive coordinator at UND. "Travis was a young man who was really making an impact on a lot of lives, not only as a good family man for his two young boys and his wife, but also in providing education for so many young people around the world.

"On the field, he was one of our all-time greats," continued Schweigert. "He was a captain of our national championship team. He was a dependable, physical, athletic inside linebacker who played the game with passion and who was a part of one of the most dominant defenses in the history of UND football."

O'Neel led UND's national title team in tackles (87) and earned Division II All-America honors from Football Gazette (1st team), Daktronics (1st team), D2Football.com (1st) and the Associated Press (2nd team). In 1999, O'Neel was named to the Sophomore All-America Team by USA Football.

A three-time All-North Central Conference First Team performer, O'Neel appeared in 48 collegiate games and amassed 214 total tackles. He helped lead UND to three NCAA postseason appearances and a four-year record of 39-9 (.813).

O'Neel, a two-time Academic All-NCC selection, graduated from UND in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. He was a teacher in the Phillipines at the time of his passing.

UND Athletics would like to extend its deepest sympathies to Travis' family and friends.

Click HERE to visit Travis' CaringBridge site and click HERE if you wish to make a donation to Travis' family in order to assist with medical expenses.