Cook County, GA------

A high school football player collapses and dies at practice leaving a small Georgia community in shock.

Cook County Running Back Roy White the Third died Monday as the Hornets were working on spring drills.

Roy White was a popular young man who loved sports.
He was a football player, a wrestler, and ran track. On Monday, Roy died doing what he loved most---playing football with his friends.

A wall at Cook County high school--- filled with memories and messages for a boy who died too soon...

Reggie Morrison is in disbelief just a day after discovering his cousin collapsed and died during football practice.

"Roy's a good, all-around person. Never bothered nobody, always laughing and talking. When I heard the news, it was a shock to me. I couldn't believe he was gone," said Reggie Morrison.

And now, faculty and students are wondering why a tragedy like this would happen to such a good kid.

"Shock, extreme grief, disbelief in some ways. It was just so sudden. Roy was such an athlete and such a healthy young man that you would just not expect something like this to happen," said Dorothy Reynolds.

Students spent the day with grief counselors and pastors, working to deal with the tragedy. But nothing could have prepared them for the loss of a fellow classmate.

"It's ironic because it's a sad occasion as we know, but it has a way of bringing the students together and making them appreciate each other and their own lives more," said Reynolds.

"The most I'm gonna miss about him, being on the football field...and I'm pretty sure all his football teammates are gonna miss him," said Morrison.

Most of the football team and White's friends did not make it to school today. Many students are just dealing with their own grief at this point. Both spring football practice and Friday's spring game have been cancelled.

The cause of White's death is unknown at this time, but his body has been sent to Atlanta for an autopsy. The coroner says the results should be back by Wednesday afternoon.