Pitt freshman football player Mason Alexander, 18, died Saturday night after a car crash in his hometown of Fishers, Ind.

Alexander enrolled in January after early graduation from Hamilton Southeastern High School, near Indianapolis, and had been participating in winter drills in preparation for spring practice that begins this month.

In loving memory of a cherished son, friend and teammate. pic.twitter.com/UyOE73IEAy

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) March 2, 2025

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi issued a statement Sunday morning.

“I received a call this morning that no parent, teacher or coach ever wants to get: the news of the sudden loss of a young and promising life,” the coach said. “Our entire program is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Mason Alexander’s passing. Mason had just enrolled at Pitt in January following his early graduation from Indiana’s Hamilton Southeastern High School. Even during that short time, he made a great impression on all of us. Mason was proud and excited to be a Panther, and we felt the same way about having him in our Pitt family. He will always be a Panther to us. The Alexander family and Mason’s many loved ones and friends will be in our prayers.”

The Hamilton County (Ind.) sheriff’s office confirmed to FOX 59 in Indianapolis that Alexander was a passenger in a 2016 BMW driving south on Florida Road. The driver of the car tried to pass a 2015 Toyota before a hillcrest and swerved to avoid a head-on collision with another car traveling in the northbound lane. The BMW traveled off the road and eventually hit a tree, catching on fire. Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alexander played cornerback for Hamilton Southeastern, was an ESPN 300 recruit and a four-star prospect in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports.

It’s hard to find the words to say right now. Mason lit up every room he was in. Brought joy and playfulness to everything and everyone. He could change the entire direction of your day with one interaction. Mason is the embodiment of exceptional. Rest Easy 15. Love forever.???? pic.twitter.com/FptDR74MSN

— Peyton Daniels (@daniels_peyton) March 2, 2025

Pitt secondary coach Archie Collins, who was close to Alexander during his recruitment, said he got to know him as a person and a player.

“He’s a guy who is very contagious, high energy,” Collins said in December when Alexander signed his letter of intent to enroll at Pitt. “A guy who always stays positive. He’s a guy I can’t wait to coach because of basically his attitude, high energy, happy, the whole nine yards.”

Collins told a story of visiting Alexander at his high school early on a game-day morning.

“He’s walking around, talking a lot of stuff to guys, getting guys motivated. But at the same time doing it all with a grin, which I think is the first part of understanding who he is, a character person. The kind person, the family person, which he is. That being said, once he steps on that field, another switch goes off. He has that other-guy mentality.”

Our thoughts are with @Pitt_FB, the Pitt community & family and friends of Mason Alexander. ???? https://t.co/kMJLqtEWCM

— WVU Sports (@WVUSports) March 2, 2025

Alexander spoke Wednesday to reporters at Pitt’s football facility.

“The coaching staff is really what brought me in (to Pitt),” he said. “Pitt was my first offer (in his sophomore year). I kind of looked past them at first. In the long run, the coaches stuck with me the whole time. Duzzy called just to check in, just to see how I was doing. The overall bond I got to feel with all the coaches is definitely what took me in.

“Coach Archie, he still calls just to check up on me. You won’t get that fake love. They’ll treat you like family.”

Former high school teammate Peyton Daniels posted a tribute to Alexander on social media platform X.

“Mason lit up every room he was in,” Daniels wrote. “Brought joy and playfulness to everything and everyone. He could change the entire direction of your day with one interaction. Mason is the embodiment of exceptional. Rest Easy 15. Love forever.”

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