Students and coaches grieving as they try to figure out why a TSU football player died. An autopsy on William Wayne Jones III was scheduled for today. The 19 year old collapsing during practice yesterday and was pronounced dead a short time later at Baptist Hospital. This TSU tragedy is just sinking in for many who called Wayne Jones a friend, teammate and loved one. By all accounts, the former Smyrna football standout was on track to do great things at TSU. Sadly, we're talking about dreams that will never be realized. TSU football players are struggling as they deal with the death of a teammate. Thursday's scheduled practice replaced by a different sort of huddling together.

"Due to the broken heartedness of this football team and the brokenness of our players, we decided just to meet and resume on Sunday," says TSU Football Coach Rod Reed.

Wayne Jones was a freshman walk-on for the Tigers, but it doesn't sound like it would have been too long before he changed that.

"We didn't have a scholarship for defensive back but he and his father were willing to come over here and wait and he was well on his way to doing that," says Reed. "He was a fine young man, a gifted athlete, and he will be sorely missed."

That's how many at Smyrna High feel. The sign outside the school now paying tribute to the one-time Bulldog who starred on the football field, the basketball court and even ran track for Smyrna Track Coach Casey Newsom.

"Most of the people are going to talk about his smile, his personality," says Newsom. "Everything that had nothing to do with his sports ability, and that's what really made him special."

"Wayne was a great player for us," says Smyrna Football Coach Matt Williams. "His Senior year, he was our top defensive back and a standout receiver as well, and teammates loved him and he was a very popular guy around here."

Around Smyrna and TSU, the hope is that a teammate's passing will not only sadden those who knew Wayne, but also inspire them.

"All he wanted was an opportunity to play, and so we are asking them to use that to help inspire them to continue moving forward in a most positive way, as Wayne would have done," says TSU President Dr. Portia Shields.

3 memorials were planned in the wake of the TSU tragedy. The first taking place tonight at Elliott Hall.
Family, Friends Talk about TSU Freshman Who Collapsed at Practice