UNLV football offensive lineman Ben Christman has died at the age of 21, the university announced on Wednesday.
UNLV announced the passing of Christman, who was found dead in an off-campus apartment Tuesday morning, on the program’s X (formerly Twitter) account Wednesday afternoon.
He transferred to UNLV from Kentucky this offseason for the final year of his eligibility. UNLV’s press release mentioned that there is no cause of death at this time, and the Clark County Coroner’s Office will release one at a later time.
‘Our team’s heart is broken to hear of Ben’s passing. Since the day Ben set foot on our campus about a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program,’ first year UNLV football coach Dan Mullen said in a statement. ‘Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates.
‘Our prayers go out to this family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed.’
Christman began his career at Ohio State, but transferred to Kentucky following the 2022 season. As noted by the Columbus Dispatch, Christman was the top-ranked offensive lineman in Ohio per 247Sports Composite when he signed with the Buckeyes as part of their 2021 recruiting class.
He transferred to Kentucky in May of 2023 after participating in Ohio State’s spring practices. In his two seasons with the Buckeyes, Christman played in one game against Indiana during his redshirt freshman season.
Christman missed the Wildcats’ entire 2023 season with a knee injury that he sustained before the season. This past season at Kentucky, Christman appeared in all 12 games, primarily playing on special teams.
‘We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of Ben Christman, a new member of our football program and UNLV community. Ben recently joined us as a transfer student and had already made a meaningful impact on his teammates and coaches,’ UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said in a statement. ‘Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates during this extremely difficult time. Counseling services are being provided for anyone in need.’