LAS VEGAS (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - An autopsy has revealed the cause of death of a UNLV football player who was born and raised in the western suburbs.
20-year-old Ryan Keeler died in February of an irregular heartbeat and suffered from a heart disease, according to the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
Keeler, a defensive lineman for the Rebels and graduate of Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, was found unresponsive in his Las Vegas apartment on Feb. 20.
The autopsy showed that Keeler had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes heart muscle to thicken.
Nazareth Academy’s Head Varsity Football Coach Tim Racki described Keeler, at 6'5'', as having a big physical presence as well as a “smile that was dynamite and infectious with his happiness.”
“Ryan, aside from his football talent on the field, the impact that he had within our school community was well-known in such a positive way. He had such a big heart,” Racki told WBBM in February.
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Keeler was “incredibly kind” to everybody, Racki added.
He transferred from Rutgers last year and played in seven games as a redshirt freshman for the Rebels. He made the academic All-Mountain West team with a 3.8 grade-point average, Head Coach Barry Odom said.
The university released a statement Monday calling Keeler's death “tragic and untimely” and expressing sympathy with his loved ones, teammates and friends.
WBBM reporter Bernie Tafoya and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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