On a weekend that was supposed to be filled with fun, excitement, and the satisfaction of football being back, a tragedy occurred.
On Saturday night, former Citadel Bulldogs defensive lineman Mitchell Jeter was killed in a car accident. He was 22 years old.
Former Citadel coach Mike Houston, who is now with James Madison, spoke with The Post and Courier and reflected on Jeter, his personality, and how great it was to be around him.
"The biggest thing I will remember about Mitchell is his big smile and his personality," Houston said. "It just filled a room when he walked in. We have a ton of fantastic memories of our times together, and it's just sad to see a bright young person like that have his life cut short."
In 2015, Jeter became the first Citadel player to be named the Southern Conference's Defensive Player of the Year. In that season, Jeter recorded 40 tackles, eight sacks, and 11 tackles for loss. He also sits second on the Bulldogs' career sack list, having recorded 19.5 during his time at Citadel.
Sadly, three others were killed in the head-on car collision, as Jim Edward Daniels, 60; Patchell Daniels, 39; and Michaiah Daniels, 5, were in the second car.
The Highway Patrol's Major Accident Investigation team is still investigating, as autopsy and toxicology reports are pending, according to the Rock Hill Herald.