Georgia Tech signee Bryce Gowdy, a talented wide receiver prospect from Deerfield Beach, Fla., died early Monday morning when he was struck by a freight train. He was 17.
After graduating from Deerfield Beach High in December, Gowdy was to enroll early at Tech and begin his first semester Jan. 6. He had signed his letter of intent with Tech Dec. 18. Only Sunday evening, hours before his death, he had sent out a tweet reading "Family matters, can't wait to get to the ATL soon!"
Gowdy was struck by a train around 4 a.m. Monday in Deerfield Beach, about 15 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Gowdy was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died. The fatality was under investigation by both Broward Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives and the Broward County medical examiner’s office. In a report published before Gowdy was identified, a representative of Florida East Coast Railway told WPLG-TV in Miami that “the pedestrian jumped in front of the train.”
In a news release, coach Geoff Collins offered a statement on Gowdy’s passing.
“Our entire Georgia Tech football family is devastated by the news of Bryce’s passing,” Collins’ statement read. “Bryce was an outstanding young man with a very bright future. He was a great friend to many, including many of our current and incoming team members. On behalf of our coaches, players, staff and families, we offer our deepest condolences to Bryce’s mother, Shibbon, and his brothers, Brisai and Brayden, as well as the rest of his family members, his teammates and coaches at Deerfield Beach High School, and his many friends. Bryce and his family will always be a part of the Georgia Tech football family.”
Tragedy has again visited Collins' team, which suffered the death of team member Brandon Adams this past March.
Gowdy was a four-star prospect, rated among Tech’s top signees in recent history.
He had helped lead Deerfield Beach High to 30 wins in the past three seasons, including an appearance in the state semifinals as a junior. He received more than 30 scholarship offers and chose Tech in July over the likes of Oregon, Penn State, Syracuse and West Virginia. A student with a transcript strong enough to earn a scholarship offer from Cornell, Gowdy liked Tech’s combination of athletics and academics.
“Some schools, they offer some of what I want, but Georgia Tech is the only school that offers everything I want in a school,” Gowdy said in October.
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