Player Dies Following College Football Game In Mississippi

Emanuell Cooks, a community college football player, has passed away due to medical complications following a recent game in Mississippi.

The death of Cooks was announced Friday by Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) in an official statement.

Originally from Elba, Alabama, Cooks was a freshman who played at the offensive lineman position, per his profile from the website of MDCC. (RELATED: Three-Time Super Bowl Champion Jim Fahnhorst Dead At 66)

Cooks passed away following a game Thursday that saw MDCC square off in Raymond against Hinds Community College.

His cause of death was not specified in the statement from the community college.

“Our entire Trojan family is devastated by this loss,” said MDCC President Steven Jones in an official press release, per Fox News. “At this time, our deepest thoughts and prayers are with Emanuell’s family, teammates, coaches, and friends. We will come together as a community to support one another through this tragedy.”

Mississippi football player Emanuell Cooks passes away after medical complications following game last night. Prayers for his family, teammates and friends. https://t.co/VpgFw53LrP pic.twitter.com/WWSNT8pVV7

— Mississippi Sports (@SocialSportsMs) September 19, 2025

Support is being offered to students, staff and faculty from the college.

Stephen Vacik, the Hinds Community College President, described the death of Cooks as “a sobering reminder how precious our time here on earth really is” in a statement that was released Friday.

“While we as spectators are watching passionately and imagining ourselves as part of the game, it is the players who are giving their all physically. Their safety is always more important than any outcome on a scoreboard,” said Vacik. “And when we lose a student-athlete in the prime of his life, it is a sobering reminder how precious our time here on earth really is. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Hinds CC go out to the Emanuell Cooks’ family as well as the entire MS Delta CC team, faculty, staff and administration.”