Football was the game he loved. But Bryce Stanfield also excelled in the classroom and planned to become a dentist. He was a beloved teammate and friend.
On Friday, the former Harrison High School defensive tackle died in Greenville, S.C., two days after collapsing during a workout at Furman’s football stadium. In his final moments, Stanfield was surrounded not only by his family, but also university President Elizabeth Davis and the Paladins team.
“One of the most beautiful things that I’ve ever seen was the entire team there with him in the room, spending time with him, praying, crying, being together as a Furman football team, which really meant the world to him,” Jason Donnelly, Furman’s athletic director, said at a press conference late Friday.
Davis said in a letter to the university community that the 21-year-old Stanfield died while “surrounded by his family and his Furman family.” Davis said the former Cobb County standout had collapsed at a Wednesday morning workout and was taken to a hospital and placed on life support. No other details were released about what may have caused the medical emergency.
Stanfield, a junior, was conferred his Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences, magnum cum laude, by Davis in a Friday morning ceremony while surrounded by parents Fred and Teri Stanfield, teammates and coaches. The diploma was a goal that both Stanfield and his parents had set, Furman coach Clay Hendrix said Friday.
“Bryce is the kind of epitome of everything we value in our program,” Hendrix said after the announcement of Stanfield’s death.
Hendrix said Stanfield had been limited recently by back pain, but Hendrix said there were no other medical concerns.
“We all want answers. We all want to ask about why,”” Hendrix said. “Hopefully we’ll find some things out. But I believe the good Lord has a plan for all of us and he doesn’t make mistakes.
Stanfield was a two-time all-region player at Harrison High in Kennesaw and starred for the Hoyas’ 2019 Class 5A championship team.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
At Harrison, he was an all-region player for two seasons, including his junior campaign that ended with Harrison’s first and only state championship. Stanfield had 3.5 tackles in Harrison’s 20-7 victory over Allatoona in the 2019 final at Center Parc Stadium.
In a social-media post in July 2020, Stanfield announced he committed to play at Furman.
“Thank you to my family for your love and support,” Stanfield wrote. “Thank you to my coaches and trainers for developing me as an athlete and teaching me to be uncommon. Thank you to my teammates for your brotherhood. Thank you God for directing my path and allowing me to play the game I love. I’m excited for all the future holds and proud to announce that I am committed Furman.”
Stanfield was a three-year letterman for Furman. Davis said Stanfield had aspirations of attending dental school after graduation.
He played all 13 games for Furman last fall and had 13 tackles and 2½ sacks while helping the Paladins go 10-3 and win a Southern Conference championship.
In December, Stanfield was one of eight members of Furman’s football team to earn 2023 Division I Academic All-District honors, as selected by College Sports Communicators, the team announced.
Thursday night, a community prayer gathering was held at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church in Powder Springs, just down the street from Harrison.
On Friday, the Harrison football posted a short message about Stanfield on Facebook.
“We are devastated and heartbroken,” the team posted. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Teri, Fred, and the whole family during this incredibly difficult time. RIP #85 #97 #foreverahoya”
For the Harrison community, it was the second time in less than two months that tragedy struck the athletic community.
On Dec. 10, 17-year-old Olivia Kate Pugh was struck by an alleged drunk driver, pushing her into a wooded area beside the road. The teen died from her injuries two days later.
Pugh played softball, flag football, basketball and ran track at Harrison, where she was an honor student and president of the Beta Club. After her death, the Pugh family established a scholarship in her honor.
Stanfield was a two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll selection. Off the football field, he served in Furman’s Heler Service Corps Men of Distinction, visited patients at Greenville Children’s Hospital and read to children at local schools. As a member of the Furman Grill Club, Stanfield took time to enjoy another hobby, Furman Dean of Students Jason Cassidy said.
“His roommates enjoyed when he would bring some extra grilled steak back to the apartment,” Cassidy said.
By Friday evening, the college football community expressed condolences to Stanfield’s family and the Furman community.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Bryce Stanfield and @PaladinFootball,” Georgia State football Coach Shawn Elliott posted on the social media site X. “Such a devastating loss for such a young life.”
Funeral arrangements were pending. A memorial service was planned for on campus, school leaders said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
