LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Teammates, coaches, and family members continue to mourn the loss of the 21-year-old UNLV football player who died this week in his off-campus apartment.
Since Benjamin Christman’s untimely death on Tuesday, several of his past football coaches have shared how the 6′ 6” lineman was a leader, a fierce competitor, and determined to play in the National Football League.
“He was special. I don’t think I have ever seen a person look so mean but be so nice. He just looked mean. He was physical, but he was a kind soul,” Dale Rodick, a football coach specializing in working with lineman, said.
“He was always looking out for the younger guys in the group and coaching guys up, giving them that energy in the session to make them push through something. He was just that guy. He was a leader.”
Rodick said he coached Christman before the offensive lineman joined the Rebels in December.
Rodick said the 21-year-old was one of the hardest working and most talented athletes he had trained.
“What stood out from him with most guys is that he was so humble about his experience. He wanted to push himself to new heights every day,” Rodick said.
Rodick explained he met Christman at ‘T3 Performance Campus’ in Ohio after the student-athlete recovered from an ACL surgery. He said the two quickly grew close and bonded over their love for the game.
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“His head coach at Revere, for a short amount of time, was my offensive line coach in college. We shared the same coach,” Rodick said. “I knew about Ben and… I was extremely impressed, you want to look up to that type of kid — the type of kid who has a lot of offers, that is highly recruited and very talented.”
Rodick said in addition to being naturally gifted and physically strong, Christman trained harder than anyone else. The gentle giant would always cheered on other athletes and motivated his juniors, he continued.
He said the student-athlete had the potential to make it in the NFL.
“I know his goal and his dream was to play in the NFL and play professionally and do this for a living. We worked every single drill, every single set with the intention of one day reaching that goal,” Rodick said.
One of Christman’s former coaches at The Ohio State University, John Holman also remembered the lineman for his work ethic and infectious spirit.
“He’s a guy that you want to be around, no matter what the situation is just because of his demeanor and how he carried himself. He was a phenomenal person at the end of the day,” Holman said.
Both coaches said Christman’s impact on others will never be forgotten.
According to Christman’s obituary, instead of flowers, gifts, or donations for his service, his family asks that all donations be made to ‘The Ben Christman Memorial Scholarship Fund’.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office has not released the cause of his death, but his obituary states he died in his sleep from natural causes.
