Former University of Central Florida tight end Jake Hescock died Sunday, Dec 11, 2022, five days after suffering a cardiac arrest while jogging in Boston. He was 25. (UCF Facebook)
(Tribune News Service) — Former UCF tight end Jake Hescock died Sunday, according to his family.
Hescock, 25, suffered cardiac arrest while jogging Tuesday in Boston, Mass. A passerby provided CPR and he was brought to a hospital before being placed on life support.
The family wrote on social media that Hescock suffered a severe brain injury during the cardiac arrest.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have to say my cousin Jake has passed on,” Hescock’s cousin Lisa Walz Mlynarczyk wrote on Facebook Sunday. “May he rest in peace and forever shine his bright soul upon us.”
Hescock played at UCF from 2017-21. He appeared in every game in his last two seasons with the Knights after starting his college career at Wisconsin in 2016.
Both current and former UCF players as well as staff members of the program shared messages while honoring Hescock’s life.
“I’m going to miss you big guy,” UCF offensive lineman Sam Jackson wrote on Twitter with a photo of Hescock, who wore No. 88.
“Going to miss you Jake,” UCF center Matt Lee wrote. “Fly high.”
Added UCF coach Gus Malzahn on Twitter: “We’re heartbroken to hear of Jake’s passing. He was an incredible person, who embodied what it means to be a UCF Knight. Everyone who knew Jake loved him and he was a blessing to coach. He will be greatly missed.”
A native of Pittsfield, Mass., Hescock attended Salisbury School in Connecticut before heading to Wisconsin for college. After his freshman season, the 6-foot-7 tight end transferred to UCF.
After sitting out the 2017 season due to his transfer, Hescock caught 2 passes for 13 yards and 1 touchdown the next season. In ‘19, Hescock became the team’s top tight end, recording 9 catches for 87 yards and a pair of scores.
Hescock caught 10 passes for 53 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2020 before returning for his sixth and final year of college football last season.
Following college, Jake moved back to Massachusetts and retired from football.
“Jake Hescock was one of the most authentic guys I’ve ever been around,” former UCF quarterback Mikey Keene wrote on Twitter. “He was an incredible person and an even better friend. He made everyone around him a better person. Rest in Peace brother.”
Added UCF linebacker Quade Mosier: “Always the craziest dude in the room! Was always a big brother to me since I got to UCF. Going to miss the river with you, Jake.”
“Jake, I love you brother,” UCF tight end Alec Holler wrote. “It was a blessing to get to know you. I’ll never forget you, 88.”
“So hard to lose a guy with so much life about him,” UCF tight ends coach and special-teams coordinator Brian Blackmon wrote on social media. “His spirit was contagious and everyone who knew Jake loved him.”
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