College Football Kicker Danny Duray, 20, Dies as Coach Says 'Our Team Is Hurting'
College Football Kicker Danny Duray, 20, Dies as Coach Says 'Our Team Is Hurting'
Michael NiedThu, February 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM UTC
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Danny Duray
Southeast Missouri State University Athletics
College athlete Danny Duray has died at 20 years old
The kicker for the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks died on Feb. 11, according to a statement from the university
Duray redshirted for the Redhawks during the 2024 season and transferred back to play with the team in 2026
Southeast Missouri State University is mourning the death of one of its student athletes.
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, Danny Duray, who was a kicker for the SEMO Redhawks, died. He was 20 years old, according to his bio on the SEMO athletics website.
Brady Barke, the vice president for intercollegiate athletics, confirmed the news in a press release the same day.
"It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that one of our student-athletes passed away," he said. "This is a heartbreaking loss for our department, our campus community, and especially for those who knew and cared for him closely. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Duray family."
Duray was from Arlington Heights, Ill., where he grew up playing football and soccer for Hersey High School.
After redshirting with the Redhawks in his freshman year, Duray spent 2025 playing as a member of the College of DuPage Chaparrals. The business administration major planned to return to SEMO for the 2026 season.
According to his bio at the College of DuPage, Duray was a two-time NJCAA special teams player of the week during the 2025 football season and scored 62 points as the team's kicker.
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His bio listed his hobbies as "fishing, soccer and working out" and noted that the Chicago Bears fan was the son of Sam and Sally Duray.
"Today is one of the hardest days I've experienced as a coach. We lost a young man who mattered deeply to our program and to so many," Tom Matukewicz, Redhawks head football coach, said in the university's statement. "Our team is hurting. Danny's family is hurting. We are going to wrap our arms around them the best we can and walk through this pain together."
Danny Duray
Southeast Missouri State University Athletics
Redhawks wide receiver Anthony Westervelt remembered his teammate as being “just so full of life," describing him as "always the funniest guy in the room" in a statement shared with the SEMO student news organization The Arrow.
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He continued, "Whenever he was around there was never a dull moment, I'll always remember him as the life of the party. He always made sure to be there for people and encourage others. He was loved by so many people and we all are going to miss him very much.”
A cause of death has not yet been revealed. The Southeast Missourian reported that the Cape Girardeau Police Department were called to Houck Field around 1:50 a.m. local time on Feb. 11 to respond to "a medical assist call."
The Cape Girardeau Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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