U. Arkansas Football Recruit Dies in ATV Accident on Farm: ‘He Had a Smile that Warmed Your Heart’

According to reports, 18-year-old Dion Stutts, who was scheduled to play college football for the University of Arkansas this autumn, passed away in an ATV accident. Several media outlets were informed of the news on Wednesday morning by Panola County Sheriff Shane Phelps, but PEOPLE was unable to get in touch with him. Three-star football prospect Stutts made his commitment to the Razorbacks in March. He was a standout defensive tackle at Tennessee’s Memphis University School during his high school years. The school said on Wednesday that counsellors would be accessible for kids in mourning following Stutts’ passing. In a statement, the school added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Dion Stutts’ family and friends, a rising senior.”

18-year-old Dion Stutts, who was scheduled to play football for the University of Arkansas this autumn, is said to have passed away in an ATV accident. PEOPLE was unable to get in touch with Panola County Sheriff Shane Phelps, but he confirmed the information to several media sites on Wednesday morning. In March, three-star football recruit Stutts made his commitment to the Razorbacks. He excelled as a defensive tackle while attending Memphis University School in Tennessee during his high school education. The school said that counsellors would be on hand for kids in mourning following Stutts’ passing on Wednesday. The school released a statement saying, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of rising senior Dion Stutts.”

Stutts died on Tuesday night, according to The Commercial Appeal, which also reported that the accident happened on his family’s farm. Stutts had just completed his junior year of high school, according to the outlet. To stay up to date on the best of PEOPLE’s offerings, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories, sign up for the free daily newsletter. “Our hearts are broken for the family,” Memphis University School athletic director Bobby Alston told The Commercial Appeal. “Dion was such a great young man. He had a smile that warmed your heart when you had a chance to be around him.”

ESPN claims that the adolescent wrestled for his high school and participated in other sports. The football squad from Arkansas released a statement to the publication expressing their “heartbreak” over the news.

According to the team’s statement, “He was a tremendous young man with a bright future ahead of him.” “He was thrilled to be a Razorback, and we were thrilled to have him join our programme. As his entire family grieves, our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Shante, father Dino, and all of them.