Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson died in an automobile accident on Saturday morning.
“We are devastated by the new of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident,” the Vikings said. “Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.”
Jackson joined the Vikings in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on April 27 from Oregon after the cornerback had played the previous two seasons at Alabama.
“Alabama mourns the loss of former student-athlete Khyree Jackson,” the Crimson Tide football program said via its official Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
According to the Maryland State Police report, Jackson was a passenger in a Dodge Charger that was involved in a three-vehicle wreck in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. State Troopers responded to the accident at 3:14 a.m. EDT Saturday.
The preliminary investigation indicates the driver of an Infiniti attempted to change lanes while traveling at a high rate of speed but struck the Charger and a Chevrolet Impala. The Charger was forced off the road and hit several tree stumps before coming to rest, the police report said.
While the occupants of the other two vehicles were uninjured, the three occupants of the Charger, including driver Isaiah Hazel and passenger Anthony Lytton Jr., were killed.
Lytton and Hazel were teammates of Jackson’s at Dr. Henry Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, James Crepea of the Oregonian reported.
Investigators think alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash and charges are pending, the Maryland State Police reported.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement released by the team. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”
Jackson had signed his first pro contract and participated in the Vikings’ offseason program. He was on summer break when he died at age 24. Jackson was scheduled to report to his first NFL training camp on July 21 with the rest of Minnesota’s rookies.
“I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement released by the team. “As we got to know him throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear the goals Khyree wanted to accomplish both professionally and personally. His story was one of resilience. He was taking steps to become the best version of himself not just for him, but for those who cared about and looked up to him. Khyree’s personality captured every room he was in. I’m devastated that his life and everything he had in front of him has been cut short. My thoughts are with Khyree’s family and friends, those who played with and coached him in college, and his teammates and coaches here at the Vikings.”
After high school, Jackson went to Arizona Western. But he never played there. The homesick teenager returned to Maryland and got a job at Harris Teeter. But Jackson wasn’t through with football, and to reach the NFL, he played wide receiver at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, then switched to defensive back at East Mississippi Community College. That led to 21 games and one start at Alabama before he transferred to Oregon, where he recorded three interceptions in his only season with the Ducks.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Khyree’s passing,” Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement released by the team. “Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player, and it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives. We are thinking about Khyree’s family and friends and all members of the Minnesota Vikings following this devastating loss.”
