Albany’s AJ Simon passes away days ahead of potentially being selected in 2024 NFL Draft

University of Albany Great Danes defensive lineman Amitral ‘AJ’ Simon has passed away at the age of 25.

Simon was found unresponsive on Tuesday night, but the official cause of death is not yet known.

Since discovering the heartbreaking news, Simon’s former teammates and coaches haven’t stopped pouring in their love and support for Amitral and his mourning family.

Simon wasn’t the most well-known prospect in the college football community, opting to play at the University of Albany, an FCS program. Yet, his work didn’t go unnoticed by some scouts and analysts preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft class.

Simon wore No. 8 for Albany, where he developed a reputation for being a game-wrecker. Simon recorded 12.5 sacks during his senior season alone, putting him on the map as one of the more intriguing small-school prospects set to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

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