Georgia Football Player, Staffer Killed In Crash After Bulldogs' Championship Parade

Georgia Bulldogs broad receiver Ladd McConkey (#84) is lifted into the air by Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Devin Willock (#77) after catching a cross for a landing throughout the School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship sport on Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, California.

Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs

Devin Willock, a College of Georgia offensive lineman, was killed in a single-car crash Sunday together with a member of his soccer crew’s recruiting workers. Their deaths got here simply hours after the crew celebrated its nationwide championship victory with a parade.

Willock, 20, and Chandler LeCroy, 24, died after a car LeCroy was driving left the roadway at 2:45 a.m. and struck two energy poles and several other bushes, the Athens-Clarke County Police Division stated in a press release.

Willock died on the scene whereas LeCroy was transported to a hospital the place she died from her accidents, police stated.

A 21-year-old man who was additionally contained in the automobile suffered minor accidents and a 26-year-old feminine suffered severe accidents, police stated. Each surviving passengers, who weren't instantly recognized, are additionally members of the soccer program, the college stated.

Willock, seen in 2021, performed in all 15 video games for Georgia this season.

Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs

“Devin and Chandler have been two particular individuals who meant a lot to the College of Georgia, our soccer program and our athletic division. We ask that everybody maintain their households in your prayers throughout this very troublesome time,” the UGA Athletic Affiliation stated in a press release.

The Georgia Bulldogs soccer crew had been celebrating their second-straight Nationwide title earlier on Saturday with a parade and ceremony in Athens. Willock, a sophomore who was finding out threat administration and insurance coverage, performed in all 15 video games for Georgia this season.

Particular thank u to @DevinWillock for taking time for my grandson when he didn’t need to. U went out of ur solution to make him really feel particular and U made his day!! Good luck subsequent 12 months! Go Dawgs! pic.twitter.com/3pgfXAMBFQ

— Sam Kramer 🖤❤🐶 (@samkramer76) January 14, 2023

“Devin was an excellent younger man in each manner and was at all times smiling,” Georgia Coach Kirby Sensible stated in a press release. “He was an amazing teammate and a pleasure to teach. Chandler was a helpful member of our soccer workers and introduced an unimaginable angle and vitality each single day. We grieve with their households for this tragic loss and can help them in each manner doable.”

LeCroy had labored for the varsity’s athletic affiliation for the previous 4 years, beginning as a sports activities advertising intern in 2019 and finally changing into a soccer recruiting analyst, based on her LinkedIn web page.