2023 Cronkite News. Zach showed me the way when I got to college. "He loved his head coach, Ed McCaffrey. He had a shorter fuse and he snapped at friends and family more quickly. Injuries ultimately forced him to retire from playing either sport. July 3, 2015: OF Zach Hoffpauir assigned to Hillsboro Hops from . "People always thought I was the happiest guy, Hoffpauir said on Untold. It changed his life, Doug Hoffpauir said. He recently hired Hoffpauir as a defensive backs coach. No one does. He has roots in Colorado and Arizona and joined the Bay Area News Group in March 2019. On Untold, Zach shared how a psychologist helped him learn how his sense of self-worth had plummeted after Stanford because he felt he was no longer living up to external expectations. Zach was 26 years old. So, when Ed McCaffery, the former NFL player and Christians father, took the head coaching position for the University of Northern Colorado in February 2020, Christian recommended his father add Zach to the coaching staff. Hoffpauir was a multi-sport athlete at Centennial High School and excelled at a variety of sports, including football and basketball. He would have been 82 on his birthday, August 20. *** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716. Hillary Hoffpauir, Zachs 23-year-old sister, remembers how his football team got out of practice for her first junior varsity volleyball game as a freshman. His father confirmed the death to the Arizona Republic but did not provide a cause. Maybe not. They passed by the No. Find an Obituary. He excelled in both and became one of the best athletes in Centennial history. I have nothing else to give.. As he grew up, he would hit socks across his home with a spatula. Former Arizona State football coach Todd Graham, who was heartbroken on 2011 National Signing Daywhen Zach announced he'd be going to Stanford and not ASU, also is in the documentary, along with Stanford football coach David Shaw and Hoffpauir's best friend from Stanford, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey. Hoffpauir's parents, Doug and Shannon, were recognized A mass of Christi The mini explosions were always followed by apologies. Hoffpauir recently was hired by Northern Colorado football coach Ed McCaffrey to be his defensive backs coach. Thats the last thing he said. He was like a brother to our boys and recently found his calling as our safeties coach at Northern Colorado. But even the most gifted focus on just one sport in high school. Of course, he didnt have everything together. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. Zach Ertz, a Stanford teammate who is now an NFL standout with the Philadelphia Eagles, was one of many to express his emotions on social media. Coach: David Shaw (42-11, entering . Just wanted to remind all the FCA campers since I couldn't come defend my title . Fill in some information about your loved one, and we'll generate some text that you can use as a starting point for your online memorial. Somethings wrong with me and I dont know what it is, Zach said of his thoughts at the time. Yep, thats 99 cents for 90 days, with the option to cancel anytime. "It was riddled with CTE lesions.". He was a cowboy and a coach, a fisherman and a dancer. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, More than 25 years experience covering NFL, college football and NASCAR. Zach treated his cousins like siblings and friends like family. Hoffpauir's father, Doug Hoffpauir, confirmed his death to The Arizona Republic. (Courtesy of Shannon Hoffpauir), Zach Hoffpauir, left, poses for a photo with his cousin, Morgan Williams, at the family's 2019 Christmas Celebration. She went on to play volleyball at Lee University in Tennessee. Zach Hoffpauir, a two-sport standout at Stanford who earned All-Pac 12 honors as a safety in football and played two seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor league system, has died at age 26. To mourn his loss, Huffy leaves behind his loving wife, Janice Smith Hoffpauir; his daughters, Janna Perret (Steve), Jodi Hoffpauir (John Rahaim), and Jeana Anderson (Chris); his grandchildren, Sara, Garrett . He taught me how to not give a fuck about what people think about me, and to do it my way. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News). Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. To the general public, Zach Hoffpauir is just an athlete and coach who died too soon. Sometimes he had so much love for other people, said Christian McCaffery, Zachs Stanford football teammate at the celebration of life. Peter Jelovic, Centennial Highs athletic director, said the school was not yet planning a memorial. zachhoff10. but it can also be stressful. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in elementary education and minors in teaching English as a second language and sociology. But as much of a light as he was for others, Zach Hoffpauir struggled to find his way out of his own darkness. Faust's team accumulated 15 hours of footage to put into the 30-minute documentary that not only includes interviews from his parents Shannon and Doug, but insight from Ann McKee, a neurologist and director of Boston University's CTE Center on the results of the study on Hoffpauir's brain. He always said hashtag CTE.. May 22, 2020. Former Florida Gov. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential, wrote Ed McCaffery in a Facebook post after Zachs death. It made so much sense. msn back to msn home sports Skip To Navigation Normally, Doug says Zach would be able to rebound quickly from things. The sad thing about it is that Zach loved this: People, fun times, this is who Zach was. His mood changed. Zach, 26, died in his sleep May 15 at his father's home in Arizona. McCaffrey shared similar sentiments, noting Zachs unique passion for leading the players and honesty about his own experiences. One night of sleep was all he wanted. The Coyotes went 11-2, losing to Scottsdale Chaparral 31-30 in the state semifinals. In a September 2019 interview on Untold, a podcast hosted by fellow former Pac-12 safety Jordan Simone, Zach estimated he had five or six on the record concussions, and that at least two of them came in the 2016 season. Low 42F. Hoffpauir, who was from Glendale, Arizona, was close friends with McCaffreys son, Christian, whos now an All-Pro running back for the Carolina Panthers, when they both attended Stanford. At the time of his death, he was staying with his father in Arizona during the coronavirus pandemic. Zach knew something was wrong. He enjoyed horseback riding, fly fishing and vacationing with his family in Mexico, listening to the same music and breathing the same air, his dad said. He would always come back to Centennial to help out the Coyotes. Zach Hoffpauir Death and Obituary News - What Happened to Zach Hoffpauir This is a developing story that Zach Hoffpauir may have sadly passed away, according to some statements posted on social media. Doug Hoffpauir said in the days after his sons death that he was certain Zach did not die by suicide. The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. Visitation will be observed on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 11:00 am until the time of services, at First Presbyterian Church, 1130 Johnston Street in Lafayette. My dopamine levels were zero. Its startling to see. The night of May 14, 2020, Zach Hoffpauir and Shaw spoke on the phone for several hours. Hoffpauirs career doesnt fit neatly into the model usually associated with players who display symptoms of CTE later in life. Doug Hoffpauir said the opportunity provided a new spark in Zachs life and thanked McCaffrey for taking a chance on his son. But by the time he was 26, after several concussions at Stanford, his frontal lobe was full of the lesions that are the hallmark of CTE. He was this incredible athlete with this strong exterior, but he really was just a big softie, Zachs cousin, Morgan Williams, said. Talented young athletes often dominate several sports in elementary school and even high school. It didnt matter where they came from, how much money they made, what they looked like or what their life experiences were. He told people about his faith, allowed people to confide in him and provided happiness for others. Doug Hoffpauir did not provide a cause of death. Once again, the sleepless nights began. ", McCaffrey family hit hard by Hoffpauir's death, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? He made his return to baseball in 2018, once more splitting time between Montana and Oregon. When the stories came out in mid-May of last year, the glaring headlines -- another athlete who died of a drug overdose -- Shannon Hoffpauir knew there was more to the story. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir holds up a small sign that reads, "Look who's turning 25," on his birthday. Two-sport standout at Centennial High and Stanford, Zach Hoffpauir died last week. To the casual onlooker, it would have seemed Zach had life all figured out. Sormani, who has a self-titled YouTube channel, is working in the Phoenix News Bureau. He was never one of the so-called Pee Wee bobbleheads, where the young brain sits atop an undeveloped neck and absorbs hundred, if not thousands of hits. Get Fishing Supplies listings phone numbers, driving directions, business addresses, maps and more. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! College Sports | He had so much to look forward to. In 2016, he returned to Stanford to resume his football career at free safety. He holds a MA from Arizona State's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Shook up about this, Ertz tweeted. Zach was the hardest hitter, most aggressive player I ever played against, said McCaffery at the memorial. The doctors said he was just vulnerable, Doug Hoffpauir said. (Courtesy of Morgan Williams), Zach Hoffpauir smiles while on the football field at Stanford. Come (his) 40s, he probably would have had either Alzheimers, Lou Gerhigs disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Parkinsons, Shannon said, tears in her eyes. The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. But Zach was just more susceptible it was just the way his body was.. All rights reserved. Hoffpauir is hoping to regain his starting position at . He finally found his direction. People always tell me I was his biggest cheerleader, but he was really mine, Hillary Hoffpauir said. But Hoffpauir sustained several concussions during his career and displayed many of the classic CTE symptoms, including mood swings, depression and memory loss. Zach even joined his mother for a Mothers Day sermon last year when he shared about his mental health. Photos courtesy Stanford University. After eighth grade, he decided he wanted to attend public school and went to Peorias Centennial High School. Zachs loved ones will remember his athletic accomplishments, but more than that, theyll remember his gentle spirit that gave love to anyone who would accept it. Clear to partly cloudy. So will his legacy at Centennial. "Hardbecause he loved coaching," Doug Hoffpauir said Thursday night in a text to The Arizona Republic. Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 646th pick of the 22nd round, Zach split time between Missoula, Montana, and Hillsboro, Oregon. In the closing moments of his Untold interview, Zach spoke about the power of vulnerability and opening up to others about what youre going through. , A post shared by Christian McCaffrey (@christianmccaffrey) on May 15, 2020 at 8:07am PDT. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Zach went 6-12 with three home runs in the series, including an infamous post-homer stare down with a Cal pitcher who had been taunting Stanford. After the attempt, he began finding healing through a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. He was 26. By Tom Scanlon, Glendale Star Managing Editor. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Former Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir died Thursday. Praying for the Hoffpauir family during this time.. But Im sure, you know, Zachs looking down on us and know(s) that hes been honored.. Their diagnosis brought immense clarity and a morsel of relief. He was just a light, said Tyler Thorne, Zachs Stanford baseball teammate, at his memorial service. He couldnt fight this alone. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease found posthumously in the brains of football players. Former Centennial, Stanford multi-sport athlete Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26, Zach Hoffpauir remembered for compassion, friendship during powerful celebration of life, Family donates former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir's brain for CTE research, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Interment will . No cause of death for the former Stanford football and baseball player has been released. 3) Psychological issues like depression and anxiety. In a game against Hamilton, the Huskies retired Hoffpauir's number 31 jersey in an emotional ceremony. He goes I would love to go fishing with you and papa but I have too many video things going on today with school. So the last thing we talked about I just said, Zach I love you, and he goes Yeah, I love you, too.. Living with suspected CTE can be difficult, but CTE is not a death sentence and it is important to maintain hope. Zach's loved ones will remember his athletic accomplishments, but more than that, they'll remember his gentle spirit that gave love to anyone who would accept it. Zach Hoffpauir, a former two-sport athlete at Stanford University, died Thursday at the age of 26. He did things the right way. He was an advocate for people dealing with setbacks. He made people want to be like him, be like God and be something more. Zach Ryan SimonGUEYDAN - It's with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Zach Ryan Simon announces his passing from this life on November 17, 2012. At Zachs memorial service, Stanford football coach David Shaw reflected on Zachs willingness to speak up to the Stanford coaching staff when he thought change was necessary. James "Huffy" Hoffpauir passed away suddenly on July 14, 2022, due to heart failure. At his first soccer game, Zach played like a man among kids, said Doug Hoffpauir. The neurologist who diagnosed Zach with Lyme Disease prescribed him medication to help him stay balanced. And there isnt anyone who can tell them whats happening. His loved ones wish they could remind him of that one more time. Zach Hoffpauir, 26, died in his sleep, according to a release from the athletic department. According to his mother, he took a Percocet to help him fall asleep and did not know the pill was laced with fentanyl. He then returned to Palo Alto for a fifth-year senior season in 2016. I would hope that seeing (Zachs) number, sharing those stories, keeping a record here on campus allows us the opportunity to not forget, said Adam Larsen, the athletic director at Centennial. */. Search by Name. The family has asked for time to grieve, he said. You can see the history of people like Zach, going slowly downhill. People sometimes assume they are violent, superficial and emotionally immature. HIGH SCHOOL. This news organization has independently requested a copy of the report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office. After games, I was like, I dont feel happy, I feel relieved, but then Im thinking about the next one, and Im all stressed out again, Zach said on the podcast Untold with Jordan Simone in September of 2019. He wanted to help the players succeed on the field, at home, in class and in the community. Never miss an issue. Cognitive deterioration is the hallmark of CTE, and you rarely see it in 20- and 30-year-olds.. With the right diagnosis and the right medication, Zach was on his comeback trail. We were celebrating his accomplishments not knowing that it caused a lot of pressure for him to perform.. A University of Northern Colorado press release stated Hoffpauir made a strong, positive impact in his short time there. They passed by the No. At that time, McCaffrey and other Stanford teammates returned to the Valley for a dinner on the anniversary of Hoffpauir's death. I got to know him after the freshmen football season was over, cause he also started on the varsity basketball team at point guard as a freshman. But I never knew how much I needed every word. The family donated his brain to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic EncephalopathyCenter that studies long-term consequences of repetitive head trauma. Add a Memory. At times, you just didnt know what you could do to help him. He battled Lyme disease, Valley fever, meningitis, depression, insomnia. That doesnt tell the story,, Friends remembered Hoffpauir for his energy and personality. His natural athletic talent led him to success at Centennial High School in Arizona, Stanford and a brief stint with a Minor League Baseball team. Hoffpauir was known as a hard hitter and suffered at least five documented concussions before medically retiring from football in 2016. He always said 'hashtag CTE'.". Former Stanford multi-sport start Zach Hoffpauir died on Thursday morning. Zach did not die by suicide, Doug Hoffpauir said. Stanford ex-player Zach Hoffpauir, who died, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, Former Stanford player Zach Hoffpauir, who died accidentally, diagnosed with startling CTE levels, Pac-12 recruiting: Huge weekend for Cal while Oregon and L.A. schools also welcome 2024 recruits, Mailbag: Kliavkoffs risky strategy with Pac-12 media rights, Pac-12 basketball Hot Seat breakdown: Decisions loom as March arrives, Best of the West: Our predictions for the mens WCC tournament, Predictions for Pac-12 media rights, network partners and expansion. ", More:Family donates former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir's brain for CTE research. So much so, that he decided to pack up his bags and head back to Stanford to complete his senior year and have one more run with Stanford. Zach also began seeing mental health professionals. You have permission to edit this article. McCaffrey's father, former Denver Broncos wide receiver and current first-year Northern Colorado head coach Ed McCaffrey, also was shaken by Hoffpauir's death. Hoffpauir was a standout safety who made All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2014. Sympathy Ideas. Find Fishing Supplies listings in San Francisco, CALIFORNIA. He was an inspiration to all who have faced adversity. Share Obituary. David Fernandez, Centennial High Schools school resource officer from the Peoria Police Department, tweeted a fond memory: A few years ago, Zach Hoffpauir was back at Centennial mentoringI was standing nearby watching when a young student walked up and said, Hey, whos that?, I replied, Thats who you want to grow up to be.. Hed have been out there, messing with everyone, Doug said. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Zach Hoffpauir (R) had 99 tackles in his time at Stanford. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, a defender who has also been capped by Italy 14 times, has died, the club EDMONTON A Edmonton homeless man whose spontaneous piano performance was viewed on theinternetby millions ofpeople has died. May 21, 2020. 35: Stanford. He clicked with junior safety Jamond Dubose on day one, talking for two hours about life and their similar experiences. Its always surprising when you see multiple lesions in the brain of someone so young, McKee said. 3 Cardinal past No. Dont mess with his friends, dont mess with his family, said Lynn. The pressure was. He was Do tax exemptions apply to costs like burial, cremation and floral arrangements? But on May 14, while living with his father in Phoenix during the pandemic, Hoffpauir took a Percocet to help him sleep and never woke up. He enjoyed making new friends and always made a point to keep in contact with them through the years. He would talk to anyone, she said. Try our free interactive obituary template. "He was so excited to get back to Northern Colorado and try to influence lives beyond football. Zach struggled with severe depression and anxiety and was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease. New UNC head football coach Ed McCaffrey hired Zach in February to coach safeties. As the calendar turned his freshman year, Hoffpauir went on to start at point guard on the schools basketball team and nearly hit .400 on the baseball team. "He had quite a number of what we call lesions in the brain," McKee says in the documentary. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. On the field, Zach excelled in baseball and football, and earned All-American honors for both. Cavness, expressed the same feeling in his eulogy. In school, Zach was loved by many that knew him for his wit and his engaging personality. "For a report to come out, 'Just another athlete who died of a drug overdose,' that doesn't tell the story," Shannon says in the 30-minute documentary, "Zach Hoffpauir: The Real Story," that will first air on Sports360AZ.com at 5 p.m. Monday. He was everything to everybody. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential.. Centennial coach Richard Taylor always regarded Hoffpair as one of his favorite players to coach because of the way he impacted the team. Then came Zachs way out, in the form of the 2015 MLB Draft. Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir (10) had 99 tackles in his Stanford career. Football was still relatively new to Zach, so Taylor worried the hit would scare Zach away from the sport. Jayden Sormani expects to graduate December 2021 with a bachelors degree in sports journalism. Hoffpauir helped coach football at Anthem Boulder Creek last season with Beau Kitson, one of his close friends. He was excited about Colorado football and Northern Colorado. Dolores was born December 26, 1932 in Shreveport and grew up in Leesville. I'd talk to him for three hours. At Stanford, Zach thrived on the football and baseball fields. She was born October 30, 1944, in Houston to Virble and Hilda Nerren. 31, now painted in the teams red and white above the 31-yard line, that will forever represent everything they believed their son Zach valued. Hoffpauir left Stanford in 2015 after being taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the MLB draft and played a minor league season that summer. This documentary sets the story straight and expands on Zach's journey from childhood to mental health struggles in adulthood to the lasting impact he had on. More:Former Centennial, Stanford multi-sport athlete Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir, right, takes a photo with his family, including his step brothers and step mother. The legacy of Zach Hoffpauir lives on forever at Centennial high school. They will let us know when they plan to have a service.. "He loved his head coach, Ed McCaffrey. He was like a brother to our boys, Ed McCaffrey said. The family will also hold a Celebration of Life at a later date. The school provided no further details. 2023 Cronkite News. Hoffpauir was known as a hard hitter and suffered at least five documented concussions before medically retiring from football in 2016. He played primarily on special teams in football and struggled mightily in baseball. And we connect in weaknesses.. Now we better understand why Zach struggled so much during the last few years of his life.. BRAVES -- Purchased contracts of P Zach Schreiber from Triple-A Richmond, P Charlie Morton from Double-A Mississippi and RHP Jairo Cuevas from Single-A Myrtle Beach. Despite being an athletic supernova, Zach remained remarkably humble. Mostly he loved sharing his life and experiences with our players, who he was born to mentor. Hoffpauir was 26 years old. ", Yesterday Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. Hoffpauir hit .295 with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs at Stanford and was a Pac-12 honorable mention pick in 2015. Hoffpauir was a two-sport athlete at Stanford: a defensive back who was named honorable-mention all-conference and an outfielder selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB draft. "I am devastated by the loss," Ed began his social media post. Zach had previously detailed some of his experiences with depression, which can be a symptom of chronic traumatic encephalopathy the degenerative brain disease linked to head trauma in football and other sports. College Sports | When Zach took that step up from high school athletics to college athletics, Zach began to feel as if he was losing his passion for the game, his father said. He quickly made a name for himself on the Centennial freshman football team. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? It didn . Survivors include her loving husband of 58 years, Ivy Lee Hoffpauir, 3 children, Dwayne Hoffpauir and wife Valerie, Kevin Hoffpauir and wife . It was a stripping of identity for me, said Zach about the retirement on the 2019 podcast. Send Flowers. Hired in February to coach safeties on Ed McCaffrey's new staff, Hoffpauir coached in the Arizona high school ranks previously. Zach would come back to Arizona, medically retired from football. We support patients and families through the CLF HelpLine, providing personalized help to those struggling with the outcomes of brain injury. His lowest point came in the spring of 2019 when he tried to overdose on Xanax and Benadryl, he said on a podcast last fall. Stanford was excellent to Zach, he said. Every day Zach Hoffpauir gave his love and passion to his family, his teammates and the players he coached. I felt helpless because I wanted to fix things for Zach, but I did not know what was really wrong.. They shared stories about Zach. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir, center, smiles for a photo with his mother, Shannon, right, and sister Hillary. It lists . At that time, we didnt bring freshman up (to varsity), but he probably couldve played on the varsity team as a freshman. He began writing whenever he felt anxious, listing whatever he felt grateful for in that moment to ground him. While Zachs official cause of death is an accidental overdose, Zachs mother, Shannon, feels that even this label is disingenuous. (He) loved his family so much and would do anything for the people he cared about. Last Thursday morning, Zach Hoffpauir passed away at the age of 26. I would tell him that hes the love of my life and he was enough, just him, Shannon Hoffpauir said. One year after the death of his son, Doug Hoffpauir heard from the brain doctors at Boston University. Life is not just about what you accomplish. The brain disease is linked to repeated head trauma in football. They passed by the No. I came back somewhere around 11:30, I was really tired and his door was still shut. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26. 31 painted near the 31-year-line. At the Centennial event, Doug refused to let the pain of his familys loss and the communitys loss bring down this night of celebration. Zach moved in with Doug during this time. McCaffrey, 23, on Friday posted a picture of Hoffpauir on Instagram with the message, "Yesterday, Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. I just want to feel normal., I walked through his darkest days right by his side, said Doug. Hope Hoffpauir Obituary. August 25, 2021 8:12 am PT. You dont pass up Stanford, Shannon said. At Centennial, Zach was a multi-sport athlete. It wouldve been great to see him here, he said. All rights reserved. Sharon "Teda" Hoffpauir A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, 11 a.m., at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church for Sharon "Teda" Hoffpauir, 66, who died Thursday, June 23, 2022 in Crowley, La, surrounded by her loving family. Zach Hoffpauirs family leads friends on the field at halftime of the Centennial-Hamilton game. After the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB Draft, Hoffpauir took a year off from football to spend a season playing minor league baseball. Now all of a sudden, sports became a business, Doug said in the Sports360AZ documentary. He made 137 more in high school and was in on hundreds of others playing running back and wide receiver. Its hard to find people who when youre around them and theyre truly present, said Thorne. McCaffery, a running back drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017, was told about Zachs condition and acted without hesitation. His athletic talent and intense loyalty were both on display in a chippy series against rival Cal in April 2015. Following tragedies, Central High School finds comfort in its football community. Grabill has interned as a photographer with McGaw YMCA Camp Echo and Phoenix Magazine. Christian McCaffrey, a running back for the Carolina Panthers, paid tribute . We were all lucky to know you for the time we did.. But he knew something was wrong..