University of Kentucky Mourns Death of 20-Year-Old Defensive Lineman Nic Smith

As a senior, he recorded 40 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and 16 quarterback hurries.

Published: 6/9/2026, 11:59:03 PM EDT

University of Kentucky Mourns Death of 20-Year-Old Defensive Lineman Nic Smith — A flag of the University of Kentucky at the 2017 Men's SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on March 12, 2017. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

University of Kentucky defensive lineman Nic Smith died Monday at the age of 20, the university announced.

Smith was a sophomore enrolled in the Community Leadership and Development program within the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and a member of the UK Football roster, the University of Kentucky Athletics said Monday in a press release.

University of Kentucky Police Department officers were called to a residence hall on campus at 10:00 a.m. on Monday after a report that a student had been found dead. School spokesman Jay Blanton said investigators were coordinating with the Lexington-Fayette County Coroner's office and that an initial investigation did not indicate foul play.

The county corners office and university police did not respond to requests for comment from NTD News prior to publication.

UK Football Head Coach Will Stein addressed the loss in a statement released by the athletics department. "Today our hearts are broken," Stein said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Nic's family, friends, teammates and everyone who knew and loved him. This is a tremendous loss for our program and university community. We will continue to support one another and honor his memory."

Smith, who went by the nicknames "Happy" and "Big Happ," was born in Augusta, Georgia, and attended Walnut Grove High School in Loganville, Georgia, where he competed in both football and basketball. He was the son of Spencer and Kisha Smith and Genedra Smalls, according to his University of Kentucky athletics biography.

A three-star recruit coming out of high school, Smith stood 6-foot-5 and weighed 290 pounds—a size that made him a natural fit at the defensive line. As a senior, he recorded 40 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and 16 quarterback hurries. He chose Kentucky over offers from Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern. He redshirted during the 2025 season.

Off the field, Smith was known for his warmth and ambition. His biography described him in three words: happy, friendly, and nice. After football, he dreamed of launching his own food business—a fitting aspiration for someone also known for his skills in cooking and baking.

The university urged students and community members struggling with the loss to seek help through the Office for Student Success.

Another Young Loss

May saw a similar tragedy after the death of William Davis, a 22-year-old defensive back who had just joined the Sam Houston State University football team ahead of the 2026 season. Davis, a graduate senior from South Boston, Va., died on May 16, a Saturday, with no cause of death or location immediately released.

Days later, TMZ stated in a report published May 20 that Davis reportedly died from gunshot wounds to the chest, with Virginia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner saying the manner of death remains under investigation, while it is unclear whether it was a homicide.

Davis’s path through college football was long and winding—stretching from Division II Virginia Union to West Virginia and finally to Sam Houston State—and his coaches similarly remembered him for his upbeat personality and impact on those around him.

“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Will Davis,” Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo said in a statement, calling Davis a “beloved member” of the Bearkat football family whose positive, passionate nature touched everyone he knew.

The Associated Press contributed to this report