Western Carolina Player Passes Away

Ja’Quayvin Smalls, a junior defensive back at Western Carolina, passed away yesterday after partaking in a voluntary offseason workout. Smalls joined the Catamounts after spending two seasons at Georgia Military College.

Smalls was complaining about cramps during the workout sessions, so he was attended to in order to stretch out. During the treatment, Smalls stopped breathing and was brought to a near by hospital where he eventually passed away.

The Catamounts, who are part of the Southern Conference, in the FCS division canceled practice for the rest of the week and will resume next week.