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By Matt Levine
Contributing Sports Writer
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We got some sad news from the college football world as it was announced that former Ohio State Buckeyes star defensive lineman Donovan Munger had passed away. Munger was 30 years old at the time of his death but the details have not been revealed as of yet.
His mother announced his passing on social media. The heartfelt message was the first news that Munger had passed.
"My heart will never beat the same. It is with my deepest sadness that I formally announce to the world the passing of my eldest child Donovan Munger. Pray for my family," Munger's mother wrote on Instagram.
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Munger was a four-star recruit in the 2013 class out of Cleveland. He attended Shaker Heights High School and eventually joined Ohio State to help bolster their defensive front.
His 2013 season as a freshman was redshirted due to his being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism in his lungs. Munger was able to recover enough to be cleared to play and the tackle played in 11 games for the Buckeyes during the 2014 season.
He then played in another 12 games in the following year. But his college career was filled with battles from blood clots, ultimately forcing him to end his football career early in 2016.
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Munger being forced to step away from football due to illness took a toll on some of his coaches. Ohio State Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson gave his thoughts on the matter back in 2016.
"It's tough. You put your whole life into playing this game of football and you love it so much and then it gets taken away from you," OSU defensive line coach Larry Johnson said in 2016 about Munger. "It's a tough thing to kind of swallow, but I think he understands this is best for him. He'll still be a part of us, be a part of our unit and a guy that we can talk to but I think now it gives us a chance to move on in his life and do a great job in the classroom.
"Get his degree and if he wants to get into coaching, he'll be able to do that. But right now, the best part of him is just taking care of himself."
During his career, Munger recorded five tackles and one tackle for loss. He was also part of the 2014 Buckeyes team who ended up winning the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship.
We wish all of Munger's family and friends our deepest condolences for this tragic loss.
For more NCAA news, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.
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