Charleston Southern freshman football player passes away

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston Southern announced on Friday that freshman football player Joe Bradshaw passed away in an incident off campus on Thursday night.

No cause of death was given and authorities are still gathering information according to the school.

According to the report from North Charleston police, Charleston County EMS said Bradshaw was in full cardiac arrest when police arrived on the scene. Bradshaw’s roommate told the officer that Bradshaw started to feel ill and vomit and he would become unconscious and started to breath shallow. He was pronounced dead at 2:36 am Friday morning.

“On behalf of the Charleston Southern Football ministry, we offer our condolences to the Bradshaw and Edwards’ family regarding the untimely passing of an exceptional young man, Joe ‘Jo Jo’ Bradshaw.” head coach Autry Denson said in a statement. “It is imperative that we not judge or allow circumstances to define who Joe was as a person. Not only would that in and of itself be a tragedy, but it also would not accurately portray who Joe really was. Jo Jo was a phenomenal young man, son, student, and teammate. He was a computer engineering major. His position on the field was as a wide receiver, but that huge smile and big heart influenced every one of his teammates and coaches.”

“The thoughts and prayers of our entire Buccaneer family are with the Bradshaw family, our football team, and our coaching staff at this very difficult time.” CSU Athletics Director Jeff Barber said in a statement.

Bradshaw was a preferred walk-on who came to CSU out of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He played for Charleston Southern Hall of Famer Collin Drafts at Nease High School.

He did not play in CSU’s opener against Kennesaw State last weekend.

“He was such a proud member of our Charleston Southern Football ministry that even wrist surgery a few weeks ago could not keep him away from his football family.” Denson would also state. “Later on that same day, after his surgery, this dude was spotted in the parking lot attempting to attend a team meeting that he was excused from. I could go on and on about Joe, but what is most important is that we remember him for who he was. He was a child of God, that unapologetically loved other people in a manner that was honoring to God. To say he will be missed would be an understatement, but we will trust God to strengthen us and his family to honor his memory by using every day that God gives us to keep a big ‘Jo Jo’ smile on our face and love like he did. Our continued prayers and support are with his family, friends, and teammates. Jo Jo may be physically gone, but he will never be forgotten. We are better because of the times we were blessed to share with our Jo Jo. We love you to life in Christ Joe.”

Bradshaw was 19 years old.