The body of Ohio State Buckeyes’ walk-on defensive lineman Kosta Karageorge has been found, according to Columbus Police.
Karageorge, 22, was last seen in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and after an extensive search, his body was discovered just blocks away from his apartment.
Following the first indication that her son was missing, his mother, Susan Karageorge, told media that Kosta had suffered from concussions, and that he was often confused. She also disclosed that he had sent her a text before he went missing apologizing for being an “embarrassment” due to his condition.
His roommates told his sister, Sophia, that Karageorge was upset about something the night he went missing, and went for a walk.
The Columbus Police Department reported that Karageorge’s body was found behind a dumpster of a Kroger grocery store, and that he had died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound.
A wrestler and football player, Karageorge’s name was called in front of more than 100,000 fans at The Shoe on Saturday’s Senior Night. The stadium went silent when instead, a missing persons poster flashed on the video board.
Following the Buckeyes’ 42-28 win, head coach Urban Meyer said “Our prayers and thoughts are with him and his family, and to have him return home safe.”
“We’ve prayed for him multiple times, and we’re trying to do anything we can to get any information regarding that because he’s a great guy,” said junior offensive lineman Taylor Decker. “Coming from the wrestling team and coming to help us, you just really hope a guy like that is safe. Stuff like that is a lot bigger than football.”
In what was already an emotional weekend for the Buckeyes’ with the loss of its quarterback JT Barrett (broken ankle), this news is absolutely heartbreaking.
From all of us at CampusSports.net, we send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Buckeyes, and the family and friends of Kosta Karageorge.
*Section Photo credit to The OZone; Featured Photo (above) credit to Greg Bartram, USA Today Sports
