Ben Christman, a 21-year-old offensive lineman for the UNLV Rebels, was found dead in an off-campus apartment on Tuesday. This shocking news comes just a month after he joined the team from Kentucky, where he spent the previous season recovering from a knee injury. In a heartfelt statement, UNLV’s head coach Dan Mullen expressed, “Our team’s heart is broken to hear of Ben’s passing. Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration, and friendship of all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed.”

Ben, originally from Akron, Ohio, had played two seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Kentucky, where he spent the 2023 season sidelined. He was a player who envisioned a career in coaching or player personnel after football, known for his solid, kind, and determined character. He is survived by his parents, Brian and Karen, and his siblings, Thomas and Brooks. Counseling services are being offered to the football team during this difficult time.