Billy Napier, the head coach of Florida, announced on Friday the passing of former Gators offensive lineman Kaleb Boateng.
The Independent Florida Alligator reports that Boateng, 21, died on Thursday night. As of press time, no official cause of death had been given or reported.
“In a situation like this, words are difficult to come by. As a parent or coach, this is a call you never want to get, especially when it concerns a former player, Napier stated on Twitter. “Kaleb was a Gator, even though our time together was brief. He was a cherished teammate, friend, and son. I pray that God strengthens us and gives everyone consolation during this extremely trying time.”
Boateng, a walk-on who attended Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) High School, signed with the Gators prior to the 2021 season but left less than a month before the 2022 campaign got underway. After spending two years at Clemson University, where he played in five games, he transferred to UF.
Dabo Swinney, the head coach of the Tigers, also tweeted his condolences on Boateng’s death on Friday morning.
We learned of Kaleb’s passing with great sadness. This is a very sad and tragic circumstance. His family is in our thoughts and prayers,” Swinney stated in a statement. Even though Kaleb was only with us for a few years before leaving, we still remember him as a positive teammate who always had a positive attitude. We send our condolences and best wishes to his family and everyone who had the good fortune to know him.
