UCF WR Plancher dies after workout

From NCAA College Football Information & Resource

March 20, 2008

RS freshman Ereck Plancher dies after team drills.

University of Central Florida wide receiver Ereck Plancher collapsed during the team's offseason strength and conditioning drills on the school's campus and was pronounced dead Tuesday after being taken to the Florida Hospital not long after.

The redshirt freshman's cause of death is yet to be determined, although police said that there was no foul play or obvious cause for the player's collapse.

"I know I speak for the entire UCF family when I say our thoughts are with Ereck's family on such a tragic day," UCF director of athletics Keith Tribble said. "We offer our full support to Ereck's family, teammates, classmates and friends to cope with this unexpected loss."

A day before the Knights' spring practices begin, Tribble said that the team had been lifting weights and running for about 10 minutes. The team huddled for awhile then as everyone was leaving, Plancher took a knee in obvious distress. Team trainers immediately provided CPR but shortly after the freshman was loaded on an ambulance, he was pronounced dead before noon.

Central Florida's practices was not scheduled to start until Wednesday but Tribble said that there was no concern it was not compliant with NCAA rules. Team practices have now been moved until further notice.

Plancher, a native of Naples, was a two-time letterman at Lely High School where he was the team's offensive MVP as a senior after recording 20 receptions for 329 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. Other teams who recruited him include Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Mississippi, UNLV and South Florida.

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