Jevan Snead, the former Texas Longhorns and Ole Miss quarterback who has died at the age of 32, was building a new career as a managing consultant in Austin, Texas after a failed attempt to make it in the NFL.
The University of Texas football team confirmed his untimely death on social media, and Austin police also confirmed the death to Heavy in a statement.
“Very sad day with news of the passing of former Texas QB Jevan Snead. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends during this difficult time,” the team wrote on its official Twitter page. David Kellum, the Ole Miss play-by-play announcer, wrote on Twitter, “I don’t know any details but I’m heartbroken for Jevan’s family. Prayers to them.”
Austin police told Heavy in a statement: “APD responded to a deceased person call (incident number 19-2641754) on Saturday, September 21, 2019 in the 1220 block of S. Congress Avenue at approximately 9:05 p.m. The deceased has been identified as Jevan Bryce Snead, DOB 09/02/1987. The death is not considered suspicious.” Police did not release further details, and the medical examiner’s office said it will likely take weeks to get the final report and, thus, the cause of death.
The cause of death was not immediately clear. According to KVUE, which broke news of the death on September 22, 2019, Snead “died overnight” and the Austin Police Department is the investigating agency. The death occurred in downtown Austin, the station reported. According to KVUE, police responded to a call “to help unlock a car or apartment” at the Congress Avenue address around 9:08 p.m Saturday and found an “obvious DOS” or “dead on scene” when they got there.
On his LinkedIn page, Snead wrote that he was working in Austin, Texas, as a Managing Consultant at WeWork Space Services. He wrote that the company was a “one-stop resource for traditional office space solutions.”
According to Hookem, Snead “was ranked the second-best dual-threat quarterback in the nation when he first committed to Florida but flipped to Texas on Nov. 13, 2005.” It was considered a big recruiting win for the Texas coach, but Snead only played for Texas for one year. In 2007, Snead transferred to Ole Miss. He later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. For Ole Miss, according to Fox News, Snead played 26 games and “threw for 5,394 yards, 46 touchdowns and 33 interceptions, leading the team to an 18-8 record and a pair of Cotton Bowl victories over Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.”
Fans weighed in with tributes. “If you were a student during those back-to-back Cotton Bowl seasons, you know Jevan Snead is forever tied to some of our best college memories,” wrote one man on Twitter. “I hope he knew that too.”
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Snead Worked in Many Positions After Leaving Football, Including the Petroleum Industry
Jevan Snead
On LinkedIn, Snead wrote about his career goals and talents. “Prior to finding my passion in commercial real estate, I excelled in sales in the oil & gas industry and the medical device industry. During my time in medical device sales I was awarded Presidents Club status for exceeding annual quota,” he wrote.
He held a lengthy string of positions in various industries. He wrote on LinkedIn that he had been at WeWork Space Services for six months.
He was an associate with a company called Cushman & Wakefield for a year in Orange County, California. He was an account executive for Stryker in Orange County from 2016 to 2018, specializing in foot and ankle sales.
Before that, he was a “fluid management consultant” for EOG resources for over 2 years in San Antonio, Texas. He served in new business development for Stevens Tanker Division in San Antonio for a year. He was a water resource manager for Plains Exploration & Production in Seguin, Texas in 2012 for 10 months. He was a Petroleum Landman in Stephenville, Texas for CW Services, Inc. for 11 months in 2011.
Before that he listed: “Team Member. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Team. 2010. Less than a year.”
2. Snead’s Professional Football Career Didn’t Go the Way He Wanted
Quarterback Jevan Snead #4 Mississippi Rebels drops back with the ball during the game against the Florida Gators during the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 27, 2008 in Gainesville, Florida.
Snead was one of those players who looks promising in college but never quite makes it to the pinnacle of professional success. “It didn’t go exactly the way I had hoped, but I’m here now. I’m here to make the best of it,” Snead told the Associated Press in 2010, according to Hook Em.
He wasn’t drafted, but he managed to be signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. However, they cut him. According to NFL.com, Snead said he didn’t regret “passing up his final season of college eligibility, only to watch the NFL draft come and go without hearing his name called.”
He had an “inconsistent junior year,” which made NFL teams think twice, NFL.com reported. According to 247Sports, Snead was a sought-after QB when he graduated from Stephenville High School. At Texas, he “was involved in one of the most high-profile quarterback battles in Longhorns history, jockeying with unheralded recruit Colt McCoy to replace Vince Young in 2006.” When McCoy was chosen, even though he was later injured, Snead ended up going to Ole Miss, the site reported.
3. Snead Expressed Pride Over His Time at Ole Miss & the University of Texas
On LinkedIn, Snead gave a glimpse into the pride he still carried because of his time on the football field.
“I am a lifelong sports fan and athlete and was fortunate to attend The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) on scholarship for football,” he wrote. “I lettered while playing quarterback at both schools and am proud to have won two Cotton Bowls during my time at Ole Miss. These experiences not only gave me lifelong personal friendships, but have also proven extremely valuable in my professional life.”
Snead was from Stephenville, Texas.
He listed these accomplishments for his time as the starting Quarterback for the University of Mississippi Football Team, Oxford, MS:
“• Successfully balanced intercollegiate athletic competition and a rigorous course load which lead to graduation in only three and a half years
• Developed and enhanced skills in teamwork, adding to group success without regard for personal needs
• Maintained a strong mental focus to achieve optimum success
• Motivated team members in the manner most appropriate to the person and the situation
• Mentored underclassmen process through adjustment to intercollegiate competition
• Overcame situations of adversity with healthy lifestyle choices, tireless work ethic, and dedication to achieving my personal best.”
For the University of Texas at Austin, he wrote, “activities and societies: Scholarship athlete and team member.”
4. Snead Was on the Honor Roll at Ole Miss & Was Involved in Various Campus Societies
Quarterback Jevan Snead #4 of the Mississippi Rebels drops back to pass against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the AT&T Cotton Bowl on January 2, 2009 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
Snead was definitely an involved and prominent person on the Ole Miss campus when he was there.
In addition to his football play, he listed these activities and societies on his LinkedIn page: “Relay for Life, Red Cross, St. Jude, Care Walk • Chancellor’s Honor Roll Spring of 2007; SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll for 2007-08, 2008-09; U.M.A.A. Honor Roll Fall of 2007, Spring of 2008, Fall of 2008, Spring 2008, Fall 2009 • Member of The University of Mississippi Business Honors Society • Competed in the 2010 College Football All-Star Challenge.”
He described himself as a community volunteer over the years, listing the following activities:
“• Strengthened collaboration skills by participating in NCAA National Service Project; National Student Athlete Day, with local children
• Increased training and communication skills by reading to grade school children in the Oxford community as a part of Reading with the Rebels
• Volunteered as a mentor to developmentally disabled individuals at North Mississippi Regional Center.”
5. People Expressed Shock Over Jevan Snead’s Untimely Death
GettyQuarterback Jevan Snead #4 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass during the Buccaneers Rookie mini camp at One Buccaneer Place on May 1, 2010 in Tampa, Florida.
People expressed upset on Twitter. “Man I was just thinking about Jevan Snead the other day. Played against him after he transferred to Ole Miss and chatted him up after the game was over. That makes me sick to my stomach,” wrote Daniel Seahorn.
“RIP Jevan Snead you’ll always be remember for what you did for Ole Miss!” wrote a fan as news spread of Snead’s death.
“RIP Jevan Snead. Such a vivid part of my memory when I look back at Ole Miss football,” wrote another. “RIP Jevan Snead. You gave us some incredible moments. You’ll be missed. #Prayers,” wrote another fan.
This post is being updated as more information is learned about Snead’s death.
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Jevan Snead Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know