Jake Ehlinger was a linebacker for the Longhorns in Texas and former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Jake died in May, and the police department did not list a cause of death after they found him because they did not consider his death suspicious.
Now, the Ehlinger family gave an update on the cause of death of Jake. The Ehlinger family said they wanted to share Jake’s cause of death to shed light on a significant issue and ongoing problem in the country.
Jake Believed To Have Died Of ‘Accidental Overdose’
In the statement of the Ehlinger family, they said that they learned that Jake was a victim of accidental overdose. Fan Nation reported that his family believes he took some Xanax laced with toxic drugs, including Fentanyl.
Fan Nation quoted the family saying, “The spread of counterfeit pills is an ongoing and significant issue throughout our country, particularly in schools, colleges, and universities. As our family continues to process Jake’s death, we felt it was important to share these details hoping that Jake will not have died in vain. We pray that sharing Jake’s story will help shed light on this problem and prevent other families from also tragically losing a loved one.”
Jake Was Only 20
Jake was only 20 when he died. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said back in May that Jake’s death was a tragedy beyond measure. ESPN reported that Sarkisian referred to Jake as a tremendous person and was everything someone could ask for in a student-athlete.
Jake was part of the football program at the University of Texas for two seasons, although he did not play during his time at the program. He was enrolled at the McCombs School of Business and two-time members of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2019 and 2020.
