Texas A&M; Freshman Dies After Collapsing

A Texas A&M; freshman football player died Monday morning after complaining to his roommate he was having trouble breathing.

Brandon Fails, 18, died at St. Joseph Regional Health Center, school officials said. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

The 6-foot-1, 307-pound defensive lineman appeared in four games for the Aggies before undergoing knee surgery on Oct. 22.

“Brandon was a bright-eyed young man with an engaging personality,” Texas A&M; Coach R.C. Slocum said. “You couldn’t be around Brandon for very long without smiling. He was an outstanding football player but an even better person.”

Slocum said Fails’ roommate, tight end Patrick Fleming, told him Fails collapsed as they prepared to leave their room for breakfast in the dorm cafeteria.

Fleming told Slocum he and Fails went out to dinner with a friend Sunday evening without any problems.

The team did not practice Monday, but Slocum said it would resume workouts today to prepare for Friday’s regular-season finale against Texas at Austin. There were no plans to postpone the game.

“I don’t think Brandon or his family would want that,” Slocum said.