‘We are all at a loss.’ Ex-UK football player Ben Christman found dead in Las Vegas apartment
Former Kentucky football offensive lineman Ben Christman was found dead in his apartment in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, the UNLV football program confirmed Wednesday.
Christman spent the last two seasons at UK before transferring to UNLV in December. He missed the entire 2023 season while rehabbing a knee injury then appeared in all 12 games for UK in 2024 as a member of the field goal blocking unit.
“We are all at a loss right now hearing about the passing of Ben Christman,” UK coach Mark Stoops said in a statement. “He was a player who came in every day and went to work. He was tough as nails on the field, but off the field he was a gentle and kind soul. He was loved by all of us, and our prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Christman was 21. The cause of death will be released by the Clark County, Nevada, coroner’s office at a later time, according to UNLV.
“Our team’s heart is broken to hear of Ben’s passing,” UNLV coach Dan Mullen said in a statement. “Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our leadership committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed.”
A former four-star recruit from Akron, Ohio, Christman started his career at Ohio State, where he played in one game across two seasons in 2021 and 2022.
This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM.