Damien Nash
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Damien Nash at NFL.com Damien Darnell Nash (born April 14 1982 – February 24 2007) was an American football player who was a running back for the NFL's Denver Broncos during the 2006-07 season at the time of his sudden death.
High school years
Nash attended St. Louis Riverview Gardens High School for the first three years of his education. He followed his coach, Darren Sunkett, to East Saint Louis High School for his senior year. He finished his career with 5,395 rushing yards and 85 rushing touchdowns as well as 1,160 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns. He was also a track star in high school and ran the 100 meter dash in 10.3 seconds.
College career
Damien was recruited for football by the University of Wisconsin, but attended Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, KS before transferring to the University of Missouri. He finished his career with 253 rushing attempts for 1,254 yards (5.0 yards per rushing attempt average) with 12 rushing touchdowns as well as 36 receptions for 282 yards (7.8 yards per reception average) with 2 receiving touchdowns.
Professional career
Nash was drafted with the 5th pick of the 6th round of the NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. He was released after his first season with the Titans and was signed by the Denver Broncos. After spending the first portion of the season on the Broncos practice squad, he was elevated and given a roster position as the third string running back behind Tatum Bell and Mike Bell. He remained in this position.
Nash appeared in six NFL games, three with the Titans and three with the Broncos. He had 24 rushing attempts for 98 yards (4.1 yards per rushing attempt average) with no rushing touchdowns as well as 7 receptions for 55 yards (7.9 yards per reception average) with no receiving touchdowns.
His best NFL game was on November 19 2006 against the San Diego Chargers when he had ten carries for fifty-two yards and three receptions for thirty-six yards. [1]
He did not appear in the Broncos' final five games of the 2006 season.
Death
Nash died on February 24, 2007, after authorities said he was found collapsed at a residence in suburban St. Louis. He was 24. Nash suddenly collapsed after a charity basketball game event on February 24 2007, and was later pronounced dead.[2] The event was a fundraiser to benefit the Darris Nash Find a Heart Foundation, a charity that raises funds for heart transplant research. Damien had created the charity in honor of his older brother, Darris, a heart transplant recipient.
The National Football League team said in a statement that they had been informed of Nash's death. Nash is the second Broncos player to die this year. Defensive back Darrent Williams was shot to death while riding in a limousine after leaving a Denver nightclub early in the morning of Jan. 1. The Rocky Mountain News reported on its Web site that Nash had played a celebrity basketball game at Riverview Gardens High School in St. Louis and collapsed afterward. The newspaper said the game was for a foundation for heart-transplant research set up after Nash's brother, Darris Nash, received a new heart last month.
Sergeant Ed Douglas of the Ferguson, Missouri, police department said in a telephone interview that Nash was found collapsed at a residence in the city and was transported by ambulance to Christian Hospital Northeast. Douglas said the case was still under investigation.
Nash was pronounced dead at 6:41 p.m. local time, hospital nursing supervisor Eileen Zwilling said in a telephone interview. She said no other information was available.