Autopsy: Western Carolina Football Player From SC Died Of Heart Complications

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) - An autopsy has found that a football player who died during his first preseason workout at Western Carolina University suffered complications from an enlarged heart.

Ja’Quayvin Smalls died in July, hours after collapsing while running. The junior defensive back from Wando, S.C., had just transferred from Georgia Military College.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported Wednesday that an autopsy by Dr. Lawrence Selby found that sickle cell trait and exertion contributed to Smalls’ cardiac arrest. Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder made more dangerous during strenuous exercise.

The NCAA recommended just before Smalls’ death that all of its member schools test athletes for the sickle cell condition. Western Carolina started testing after Smalls’ death.