Former Kansas State football player Derick Newton dies at age 21
Derick Newton, a former Kansas State football player who announced plans to transfer last month after playing in two games for the Wildcats, has died at the age of 21.
A source confirmed Newton’s death Thursday afternoon and said it was by suicide.
Riley County police said Thursday that during the course of a criminal investigation, they found a 21-year-old man dead in the 2000 block of College Avenue in Manhattan. No foul play is suspected in the man’s death, police said.
Riley County police said no further information would be released because investigations are ongoing. K-State athletic officials deferred comment to police.
Attempts to reach Newton’s family were not immediately successful. Newton had a daughter and a son, according to his biography in K-State’s football media guide.
Several of Newton’s family members, including his older brother, shared rest-in-peace messages along with photos of Netwon on social media. His former K-State teammates also made emotional Twitter posts remembering Newton on Thursday.
“Too many goodbyes this year,” wrote K-State receiver Malik Knowles. “Check on your loved ones.”
Late Wednesday night, Newton posted this message to his Facebook account: “Got issues I Kant deal wyt luv yll folks.”
Newton originally came to K-State from Douglas, Georgia, where he played football for Coffee High School.
This story was originally published October 29, 2020 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Former Kansas State football player Derick Newton dies at age 21."