UNLV senior offensive lineman Ben Christman, who transferred from Kentucky after last season, has died at the age of 21, the university confirmed. Christman was found dead Tuesday morning in an off-campus apartment.
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The cause of death is under investigation, and the Clark County Coroner's Office will determine the official cause.
The university expressed its condolences to Christman's family and announced that counseling services would be available for those affected.
"Our team's heart is broken to hear of Ben's passing," said UNLV coach Dan Mullen in a statement. "Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program."
Christman, a native of Ohio, began his college career at Ohio State, where he was highly ranked in the 2021 recruiting class. After redshirting his first season, he appeared in one game in 2022 before transferring to Kentucky.
He did not play in 2023 due to a knee injury but participated in all 12 games the previous year, contributing on special teams. Christman transferred to UNLV in January to continue his playing career.
UNLV president Keith Whitfield also expressed his sorrow, saying, "There is little that can be said to lessen the pain of suddenly losing a member of our university family at such a young age, and my heart breaks for all who knew and loved him."
Christman had quickly earned the respect of his new teammates at UNLV, with Mullen noting that he was selected for the team's leadership committee shortly after his arrival. His loss is felt deeply by both the university and the football community.
