Cody Ince, a former University of Iowa football player, has died. He was 23 years old.
According to his obituary, the former offensive lineman died “unexpectedly” at his home in Grantsburg, Wis., on Saturday.
Ince started 10 of his 29 games before he retired from football due to injuries despite being a pro football prospect, according to The Athletic. He graduated in 2022 with a year of eligibility remaining.
University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz memorialized Ince, a 2020 honorable mention All-Big Ten selection and an academic All-Big Ten honoree, in a statement.
“I am incredibly sad to hear about Cody Ince’s sudden passing,” Ferentz said. “Cody was a tremendous young man, valued teammate and contributor to our program.”
“He loved football, fishing and hunting, and believed in the importance of family and friendships,” he added. “Cody was just beginning this next chapter of his life and was about to be married. All of us in the football program — his coaches and teammates — are mourning his loss.”
Former teammate Tyrone Tracy Jr. remembered Ince in a comment on the obituary website on Tuesday.
“I have had the honor of knowing and playing with Cody while I was at the University of Iowa,” wrote Tracy, who has since transferred to Purdue. “He was not only a great teammate but an amazing person! Always smiling and cracking jokes but he took his job on the field personally and I loved that about him. He used to always bring in deer jerky or sunflower seeds and he made sure I got some every time.”
“It’s the little things that I will remember!” Tracy added. “Thank you Cody for being such an amazing person and friend!”
Ince is survived by his fiancée, Olivia Tucker, parents Tammy and Marty, and sister Carly.
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