Former Prairie View A&M Football Star Known for His ‘Love for the Game,’ Dies at 22, School Says

A former standout Texas college football player has died at the age of 22, Prairie View A&M University confirmed in a statement.

Jackson “Jacks” Bailey’s cause of death was not immediately known.

“The Prairie View A&M University Department of Athletics extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, teammates and fraternity brothers of Jackson ‘Jacks’ Bailey, a cherished member of the Panther football program and the PVAMU community,” the statement, posted on Tuesday, June 10, read. 

The linebacker joined the HBCU’s football team in 2023 after entering the transfer portal while at Louisiana-Monroe. 

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“He had a strong football IQ and natural speed, shaped by a successful high school career in which his team lost only three games,” the statement read. “He described his best game as one with 10 tackles, one touchdown and a fumble recovery — a testament to his love for the game and his ability to shine under pressure.”

The Dallas-area native was a standout at Red Oak High School, where he led the Hawks with 60 tackles as a junior before helping the team to advance to the state 5A quarterfinals as a senior. He then started his college career at Arizona, before transferring to Prairie View.

At Prairie View, located about 50 miles northwest of Houston, Bailey was a member of  the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC-TV reported. 

“He chose Prairie View A&M to be closer to home, and in doing so, became an unforgettable part of our campus family,” the school’s statement read. “Though his time at PVAMU was brief, the impact he made will resonate for years to come. We honor and remember Jackson ‘Jacks’ Bailey not only for his potential and promise but for the way he lived—with purpose, humor, humility and heart.”