University of Maryland to conduct full review after death of football player Jordan McNair

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The head football coach at the University of Maryland choked back tears as he talked about the tragic passing of one of his players. Jordan McNair died Wednesday after he was hospitalized two weeks ago following a team workout he took part in.

In a very somber news conference held on campus Thursday, head coach DJ Durkin took the death of McNair very hard.

"My heart is broken for the reason that we are all sitting here having this press conference," said Durkin. "You look for reasons. It's not reasonable that a 19-year-old should pass away."

McNair was taking part in conditioning drills at a football practice field with all eligible players on May 29 when he became ill.

Maryland Executive Athletic Director Damon Evans said the 6-feet-4, 325-pound offensive lineman was running ten 110-yard sprints when the staff noticed he was having difficulty recovering. The temperature was 80 degrees at the time.

"Following the completion of the workouts, our trainers noticed that Jordan was having some difficulty recovering," said Evans. "They began supporting active recovery and providing necessary care. Jordan was subsequently transferred via Gator [utility vehicle] to our training room in our football team house for further observation and continued care. At that time, medical personnel was called and 911."

The cause of McNair's death has not been disclosed.

The drills began at 4:15 p.m. in the afternoon and McNair was taken to the hospital at 6 p.m.

Evans said there will be full review of what happened during the team workout, the drills that took place that day and the medical care McNair received after he became ill on the field.

McNair was from Randallstown, Maryland, and attended McDonogh School in Owings Mill. McNair was a consensus 4-star recruit and was the sixth-ranked player in the state of Maryland, according to ESPN and 247sports.com. He was a two-time All-Metro first-team selection and was also named to the Maryland high school All-State football team in 2015.