A member of Ohio State's 2014 national championship team died on Tuesday morning.
Former Ohio State linebacker Devan Bogard, who played for the Buckeyes from 2012-14, was killed in an apartment fire in Elyria, Ohio, on Tuesday morning. According to the Elyria Chronicle Telegram, the fire was determined to be accidental.
A product of Cleveland's Glenville High School, Bogard arrived at Ohio State as a four-star recruit but was a victim of terrible injury luck throughout his Buckeye career, as he suffered three straight torn ACLs in 2012, 2013 and 2014, which ultimately ended his football career before the 2015 season.
Bogard, who was the first freshman of the entire Urban Meyer era to lose his black stripe, saw regular playing time on special teams when he was healthy and recorded 13 total tackles over three seasons.
After graduating from Ohio State in 2016, Bogard went on to become a football coach at Elyria High School.
Many of Bogard's former teammates and others from Ohio State, including director of player personnel Mark Pantoni and athletic director Gene Smith, took to Twitter on Tuesday to pay tribute to him.
RIP Bogard!!
— Shon (@shonrp2) October 12, 2021
It dont seem real. Bro was doing everything right. I cannot believe it!
— Tyvis Powell (@1Tyvis) October 12, 2021
Damn Man Jus Ruined My Day Rest Up Bogeez
— Malik Hooker (@MalikHooker24) October 12, 2021
RIP Bogeez....this sh t aint fair
— Darron Lee (@DLeeMG8) October 12, 2021
Dog, aint no way we lost Bogeez. Rest up to a REAL one .
— CQ. (@CinQuanHaney) October 12, 2021
My man Bogeez will be dearly missed by just about everyone who got to spend time around. Always fun to be around, always loyal, always upbeat and always positive. The world lost a real one. RIP
— Joshua E Perry (@RIP_JEP) October 12, 2021
Fly high Bo Geez. We made some memories. #GoBucks
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) October 12, 2021
Gone too soon. RIP https://t.co/zvgRt3A45W
— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) October 12, 2021
Today is a really tough day for all of the guys that played with Bogey. One of the best dudes there was. Brought it every day on the field and lit up a locker room with his personality. The brotherhood lost a very special brother today https://t.co/OLcutKDLuo
— Zach Boren (@ZBoren44) October 12, 2021
Unbelievable. RIP @TheBogeez
— Cardale Jones (@CJ1two) October 12, 2021
So sorry to see this news. My condolences to his family. https://t.co/JzOnVWkH0A
— Gene Smith (@OSU_AD) October 12, 2021
A GoFundMe has been organized by a team rep from the Elyria High School football team to raise funds for his funeral expenses and for future expenses for his son Jaden.
