Tragic Loss for New Brockton Community as High School Player Dies

New Brockton, Alabama – A tragic event has shaken the small community of New Brockton as 14-year-old high school football player Semaj Wilkins collapsed during a practice and later died. The incident occurred on Tuesday, around 4:30 p.m., as the team was engaging in warmups.

Wilkins, a freshman at New Brockton High School, was given CPR on the field before being transported to a hospital. Despite resuscitation efforts, he did not survive, leaving friends and family in shock. Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham commented on the impact of this event, saying, “It’s dealt a real blow to this small community.” He further noted that he has never witnessed anything like this in his long time living in the area.

The cause of death remains unknown, and an investigation is likely underway to determine what happened. In a heartfelt statement, Coffee County Schools Superintendent Kelly Cobb expressed the loss felt by the community, stating, “Semaj was a young man who brought joy and inspiration to his peers, teammates, coaches, and faculty members. His loss will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him.”

Wilkins’ mother, Regina Johnson-Adams, shared with local media that her son had a deep love for sports and was healthy before this tragic event. “At this time, I know that my son was healthy…It was probably something that we missed,” she said, acknowledging the possibility of family health issues.

This incident comes just over a week after another high school football player in Virginia faced a similar fate after collapsing during practice. In response to this heartbreaking loss, a vigil will be held on Friday at the New Brockton football field in honor of Semaj Wilkins, bringing the community together to remember a life that ended too soon.