20-Year-Old College Football Player Dies During Vacation with Girlfriend
Ethan Walker, an offensive lineman for the Iowa Central Community College football team, tragically passed away on January 4 during a vacation. He was just 20 years old.
While the cause of his death has not been disclosed, it has been reported that Walker experienced a “sudden medical event,” according to a GoFundMe campaign created to assist his family in bringing his remains from Orlando, Florida, where he died.
The redshirt freshman was vacationing with his girlfriend, Kenzie McClelland, and her family at the time of his passing. Walker and McClelland were high school sweethearts, and the GoFundMe stated that he had become deeply connected to her family, being a loving and devoted partner who respected their daughter in every way.
“Ethan was a giant in every capacity—standing 6’5” and weighing 310 lbs as an offensive lineman for the Iowa Central Tritons, pursuing his dream of playing major college football,” the GoFundMe page states. “However, beyond his strength on the field, Ethan was characterized by his immense heart dedicated to his family, friends, faith, and community.”
The campaign further elaborates, “As his mother Sara, stepfather Jeff, and older brother Jordan remain in Florida to face the painful task of bringing him home, his father John, younger brother Luke, and his grandparents Jack and Jackie Morrison wait in Iowa with heavy hearts to say their farewells.”
Funds raised through the GoFundMe will assist in covering the costs associated with transporting Walker’s body, plus emergency travel, lodging, and funeral expenses.
“Any additional funds will be used to honor Ethan’s memory and sustain his legacy through memorial projects and tributes as determined by his mother, Sara,” the GoFundMe details.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for anyone who was touched by this remarkable young man,” his coach, Jesse Montalto, shared via X on January 6. “Ethan was a phenomenal person who embodied everything we stand for at Triton Nation. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family. You will be dearly missed.”
The Tritons’ offensive line coach, Justice Clegg, also expressed his sorrow, stating, “I’m incredibly heartbroken right now and find it hard to express my feelings. But it’s important to share this for the people who care about him and are unaware.”
Walker played in four games for the 2025 Tritons, who finished the season with an 8-4 record, capped off with a victory in the Game One Bowl. Prior to joining Iowa Central, Walker was involved in both basketball and football at Grinnell High School.
An obituary available on the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory website described Walker as “huge in every regard—from his physical stature to the love he held for his family, friends, and faith, as well as the enduring impact he made on countless lives.”
“Those who knew him best recognized that behind his powerful build was a fun-loving kid at heart, a humble soul, and an individual with an exceptional work ethic,” the obituary noted.
A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at the Grinnell Christian Church. Walker’s family requests that attendees wear a golf or beach vacation shirt in his tribute.
