In a shocking turn of events, Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson passed away at age 26, the team announced on Wednesday morning. Currently, the cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Ferguson, who played at Louisiana Tech, was a third-round 85th overall pick by the Ravens in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jaylon Ferguson was a Lousiana native who attended the West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana. He played football and basketball on the school team for four years. He was also a part of the Louisiana Tech football team, where he holds the NCAA record for career sacks (45), thanks to a dominant 2018 season with 17.5 sacks. In the 2019 NFL Draft, Jaylon Ferguson was a third-round and 85th overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Jaylon Ferguson served as a rotational pass rusher on the Ravens’ defense in each of the past three seasons.
Jaylon Ferguson Stats:
- 17 QB hits
- 13 tackles for loss2048
- 44 Solo Tackles
- 23 Assisted Tackles
- 4.5 sacks
- 38 games
Jaylon Ferguson had an immediate impact on the NCAA scene. Belonging from Louisiana, which is one of the regions loaded with a plethora of talents, Ferguson would go on to become ranked 57th in Louisiana for the 2014 recruiting class. Owing to his success and explosiveness in the field, he attracted the attention of several universities like North Carolina State University, Mississippi State University, and Memphis State University. He was also offered to be included in a scholarship program. However, Ferguson would later choose to stay close to home and join Louisiana Tech. His impact was immediate as he soon became their star player scoring 15 tackles for loss and six sacks in just his first season. The next season he shifted gears and burst onto the scene with 14 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 14 games. However, his best was yet to come. In the 2018 season, Jaylon Ferguson made NCAA history when he registered a whopping 17.6 sacks and 26 tackles for loss in 13 games. His name was etched in the history books, and NFL soon came calling.
NFL Breakout
In the 2019 NFL Draft, Jaylon Ferguson was a third-round and 85th overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Even though he failed to replicate the same impact in NFL, there were indications before the training camp this year that suggested this finally would have been the break-out year for the explosive edge rusher. Several news media outlets would go on to report that Ferguson looked in a much better shame and was working to add to his explosive arsenal this year.
However, tragically the Baltimore police, on June 22nd, 2022, responded to a home in the 400 block of Ilchester Ave. in Baltimore for a report of a questionable death at around 11:25 p.m. ET Tuesday. They found Jaylon Ferguson unresponsive as medics were treating him. Jaylon Ferguson was pronounced dead on the scene by the medics. Additional reports suggested that no sign of trauma or foul play was suspected at the time, however, the full autopsy report will be released to the public in due course of time.
The Ferguson family would later release a statement on 23rd June 2022 saying,
“It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the unexpected passing of our beloved Jaylon Ferguson. Jaylon was a loving father, son, brother, fiancé, and an exceptional athlete. His kindness, big heart, and infectious personality will be missed by so many, but his legacy will continue. We wholeheartedly appreciate the calls, texts, and posts of support from his many friends and fans upon learning of this tragedy.”
“Despite the speculation in earlier reports, at this point of time, the cause of Jaylon’s death has yet to be determined,” they said. “This is one of the darkest moments in our lives, and we are all still utterly shocked. We ask that you please respect our privacy as we navigate through this difficult time.
The Baltimore Ravens would also release a statement saying,
“We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson. He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon’s family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon.”
Jaylon Ferguson is survived by his fiancée, Doni Smith, and their three young children, Jrea, Jyce, and Demi.
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