A Washington State University football player was found dead Tuesday at his off-campus home in Pullman, authorities said.
Police received a call around 5:45 p.m. and found Bryce Beekman, 22, dead. Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins said a friend of Beekman's found him not breathing.
There were no signs of foul play and no indication that Beekman died by suicide, Jenkins said in a statement Thursday.
"At this time, there are no indications of a connection to COVID-19, but that will be part of the investigation," Jenkins added.
Beekman, a redshirt senior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, transferred to Washington State from Arizona Western College before last season.
Beekman, a safety, started all 13 games during his junior year and was fifth on the team with 60 tackles.
As a freshman at Arizona Western, he was named a National Junior College Athletic Association All-America honorable mention, and as a sophomore he was rated the No. 4 junior college safety prospect in the country.
Washington State's athletic director, Pat Chun, said in a statement on Twitter that the community was in shock.
"Bryce was a tremendous young man, a great teammate and will be missed by all," he said. "We send our deepest condolences and prayers to the Beekman family and his many friends."
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The Cougars' new head coach, Nick Rolovich, remembered Beekman as a "wonderful young man."
"He was always positive and well respected amongst his teammates. My heart goes out to his family and friends," Rolovich said.