An investigation is underway following the death Missouri State football player Todric McGee, a 21-year-old safety who died over the weekend after sustaining what authorities called a a “possible accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound” upon initial findings. According to The Springfield News-Leader, McGree was rushed to the hospital Friday and the school reported the player’s death the following morning.
“Our football family is in shock and in mourning at the loss of Todric,” Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard said in a statement. “Join us in praying for Todric and the people who loved him.”
Missouri State athletic director Patrick Ransdell said in a release that the university will be supportive of those mourning McGee’s passing.
“On behalf of the university and our entire department, we want to express our condolences to Todric’s family, friends and teammates. This tragedy has shaken our football program to the core,” Ransdell said, in part.
A two-year starter in the secondary, McGee was entering his fifth season of college football and earned earned MVC all-conference honors in 2023. Last season was cut short due to injury, but McGee still managed 45 tackles over five games.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, McGee was one of Missouri State’s top signees in the 2021 recruiting cycle. According to his school bio, McGee earned Kansas 5A first-team all-state honors at defensive back in 2020, helping coach Steve Martin’s Grizzlies at Wichita Northwest High to a 10-1 season and state runner-up showing in 2020. He was a team captain and also named to the all-metro, all-city, all-conference and all-district teams with 64 tackles, three interceptions and eight tackles for loss as a prep senior.
The multi-sport star had offers coming out of high school from from Army, Air Force and Southeast Missouri.
The news of McGee’s reported accidental death comes during the same month LSU mourns the passing of 24-year-old wideout Kyren Lacy. Lacy was reportedly being pursued in Houston by officers in a high-speed chase before crashing. Authorities determined Lacy died by suicide after approaching the car once the pursuit was over.
Lacy’s father, Kenny, wrote in a Facebook post about the dangers of mental health issues.
“Young parents, start talking to your kids at a very early age and make sure they are confident and comfortable confiding in you,” Lacy’s father wrote. “Don’t be cool with ‘I’m Alright, or I’m good’ when you know deep down something isn’t right. Mental Health is real, and for the most part, it’s invisible, don’t ignore the signs, even if they may seem small.”
