Oklahoma Sooners Linebacker Austin Box Passes Away

KFOR.com Sports in Oklahoma City is reporting that Oklahoma senior linebacker Austin Box has been confirmed deceased by the Medical Examiners Office.

Preliminary reports say he was taken to a local hospital after being found unconscious in El Reno late Wednesday night. It is reported that Box was in critical condition before he expired earlier today.

Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out for Austin, his family, friends, teammates and all those that knew and cared for this young man.

I do not know what transpired and it is not seemly to speculate on the cause of death at this time.

However, I do know this... the death of a young man in his prime, full of the strength, vigor and confidence of youth, is not one easily understood.

It makes one stop and reflect, realizing that life can be short and none of us know when our time is due. Every moment is a gift and should be relished as such.

Austin Box made the most out of the all-too short time he was allotted on this world. He was a standout quarterback, linebacker and safety at Enid High School, where he led his team to the Oklahoma State Championship game in 2006.

Box signed with OU out of high school as the top-ranked recruit in Oklahoma and the No. 3 ranked outside linebacker in the country, according to Scout.com.

Austin started 11 games while at Oklahoma and played extensively in many others. He solidified the interior of the Oklahoma defense in the last five games of the 2010 season when he returned from a preseason back injury and became the starting middle linebacker.

Box came on strong after being cleared to play late in 2010, particularly in the last three games of the season. He intercepted a pass in Stillwater to help the Sooners hold off Oklahoma State, recovered a fumble in the Big 12 Championship Game against Nebraska and had eight tackles in the Fiesta Bowl victory over UConn.

Austin recently graduated and received his degree from Oklahoma but was returning to the team for his final year of eligibility in 2011.

It seems inadequate to write a such short article about a young man who had accomplished so much in a such a brief period.

A life full of promise has been cut short and it is a tragedy on many different levels. For the Sooner Nation, along with our humble prayers, it is also a tragedy that a member of the family has passed, a local boy who made good on the dream of some day donning the Crimson and Cream of Oklahoma.

Austin Box, you will be missed...