Ryan was a student-athlete from Chicago, Illinois, who recently joined UNLV’s football squad in December 2022.
News quickly spread that his body was discovered, tragically, all alone in his dorm room in Las Vegas. His family, friends, and community were all left pondering what could have led to his passing at such a young age.
UNLV football head coach Barry Odom publicly announced Keeler’s passing and expressed his condolences on behalf of both him and the university. “We are devastated to have lost a member of our Rebel family,” he said. “While I had the honor of knowing Ryan for only a couple of months, he already stood out to our coaching staff as an incredible person, student, and teammate.”
A private ceremony was conducted to honor Keeler’s memory, during which his teammates wore stickers on their helmets as they mourned this great loss.
Funeral details to this day remain uncertain with no further announcement from any family member or source yet released.
At a recent press conference, Barry Odom, the new head coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), spoke of Ryan Keeler in touching terms.
He said that even in the brief time he had known him, he had come to think of him as an outstanding person and teammate who had made a powerful impact on his community.
The UNLV administration soon expressed their profound sadness for such a tragic loss. They extended their condolences to Keeler’s family and stated they were committed to providing support and resources for all those affected by his demise.
Keeler played football since he was young; during his last season with UNLV, he played seven games and earned academic All-Mountain West honors with a 3.8 GPA. In October 2020, he started in a game against Air Force, where he showcased his talents and recorded seven tackles and a sack. At the time of his death, Keeler was only 21 years old.
Expressions of Sympathy for Ryan Keeler
The news of Ryan Keeler’s sudden passing sent shockwaves through the UNLV football community, his teammates and coaches, and his loved ones.
Those who were close to him expressed their sorrow and prayed for comfort for his family and friends.
The UNLV president tweeted about the matter with heartfelt sympathy. “Words are hard to come by this evening as we grieve the sudden and tragic loss of UNLV student-athlete Ryan Keeler.
My sincere condolences are with Ryan’s family, friends, loved ones, and teammates during this very difficult time.” Rutgers football added on Twitter, “We love you, Ryan,” which Nazareth Academy Football’s post echoed, “There are no words. Our hearts are heavy. God bless the Keeler family. We love you, Ryan.”
Palloma Villicama conveyed her own personal sentiments in a tweet to her fans, saying that although she had only just begun getting to know Keeler, it was clear that he had made an immediate impression as a great person and teammate on all members of the coaching staff.
