Reaction to the Death of Tiger Damien Nash
2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 25, 2007
Columbia, Mo. -
The University of Missouri learned Saturday evening of the death of former Tiger tailback Damien Nash, who passed away in his hometown of causes yet unknown after playing in a charity basketball game. He was 24 years old.
"It's hard to find words right now to express how tragic this is," said Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel. "We're in shock that Damien is gone, it's just something that leaves you speechless. Damien was a good person who was a special athlete. He had a very bright future in football and beyond, and this is a big loss for our program and everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and loved ones. It's hard to believe that we could experience something like this again, after losing A.O. (Aaron O'Neal) less than two years ago," he said.
The basketball event was held to benefit The Darris Nash Find A Heart Foundation, which raises money for heart transplant research. Darris Nash, 25, is the older brother of Damien Nash. The foundation was created last month, after Darris Nash received a heart transplant.
Nash, a native of St. Louis, Mo., lettered for Mizzou as a tailback in 2003 and 2004, after coming to MU from Coffeyville Junior College, where he spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons (redshirting in 2001). Nash led the Tigers in rushing in his junior season of 2004, rushing for 792 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry in 10 games. He also caught 25 passes out of the backfield for 176 yards and one touchdown.
Nash rushed for 462 yards and five touchdowns in 2003, his first year in the Tiger program, while catching 11 passes for 105 yards and one score.
He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season, and was selected in the fifth round of the 2005 draft (#142 pick overall) by the Tennessee Titans. He rushed six times for 32 yards for Tennessee in 2005, and was picked up by the Denver Broncos, where he carried 24 times for 98 yards in 2006.
Nash was one of the nation's top prep running back prospects out of East St. Louis High School when he committed to Mizzou. He racked up 1,444 yards and 28 TDs as a senior there, after spending his first three years at St. Louis Riverview Gardens, where he helped lead his team to the 1998 Missouri Class 5A state title. Nash totaled a massive 5,395 yards rushing and an eye-popping 95 total TDs in his prep days, and he also threw for 1,160 yards and 10 TDs, as well. He chose Mizzou over Miami, Fla., Nebraska and Illinois, among many other schools.
After redshirting at Coffeyville in 2001, Nash was able to play only one game for the junior college in 2002, as he suffered a season-ending knee injury on the opening kickoff of the season.
Nash eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark 3 times in 2004, as he ran for a career-high 126 yards and two touchdowns in the opener against Arkansas State. He also surpassed 100 yards that year in games against Colorado (102, one TD) and Kansas State (118). His biggest output in 2003 was a 10-carry, 91-yard, 2-touchdown rushing day in the regular-season finale against Iowa State.
Funeral service information will be posted on this website when available, as will any potential memorial information.
