Missouri State Football Standout Todric McGee Dies at 21

McGee was entering his fifth year with the Bears football program.

Todric McGee (R) of the Missouri State Bears plays against the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas, on Sept. 1, 2023. Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Missouri State University football player Todric McGee died on April 19, after suffering injuries he sustained the day before at his Springfield residence. He was 21.

According to a statement released by the university, McGee suffered from “injuries he sustained” at his residence. He was subsequently taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

“Our football family is in shock and in mourning at the loss of Todric,” said Bears head football coach Ryan Beard in the statement following McGee’s death. “We ask everyone to please respect the privacy of his family and our MoState football team at this time as we begin the healing process. Join us in praying for Todric and the people who loved him.”

Additional details are currently under investigation by authorities.

Cris Swaters, spokesperson for the Springfield Police Department, said officers responding to a request for a wellness check found McGee at his home on the morning of April 18. “This is an active investigation,” Swaters said.

McGee, a native of Wichita, Kansas, was entering his fifth year with the Bears football program. Known for his determination on the field and his upbeat presence off of it, McGee’s unexpected death has left the Missouri State community reeling.

The university announced that grief counseling services are available to students and athletic staff.

Since news of McGee’s passing broke, tributes have come in from across the Missouri State community and his hometown of Wichita.

“Please keep his mother Stephanie and sister Tahlia in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the many family and friends he had,” read a post on social media platform X from the Wichita Northwest High School football team. “He was an amazing young man with a heart of gold! RIP Todric!”

Brad Jarman, Missouri State’s special teams coordinator, remembered McGee as someone who could always lift the mood.

“Todric was an unbelievable human being with the ability to light up any room he walked in!” Jarman posted on X. “An infectious smile that always made my day when he walked in my office. Rest easy 4. Prayers to his family and loved ones and @MoStateFootball.”

Dominic Petrino, the team’s offensive coordinator, also expressed his sadness.

“Loved going against Todric every day in practice,” Petrino wrote on X. “He would always go back and forth with me about the routes I would run on him. Going to really miss that. Such a great kid!! So heartbreaking!!”

Athletic director Patrick Ransdell echoed the heartbreak in a formal statement from the university.

“On behalf of the university and our entire department, we want to express our condolences to Todric’s family, friends, and teammates,” Ransdell said in a statement. “This tragedy has shaken our football program to the core, and we want them to know we are here to support them in every way possible at this extremely difficult time.”

McGee played in 27 games over four seasons for the Missouri State Bears and was regarded as one of the program’s top defensive players.

After stepping into a larger role in 2022, he broke out in 2023, earning second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. That season, he totaled 102 tackles, 59 of them solo, and added two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

In 2024, McGee’s senior season was cut short by a season-ending injury after just five games. Despite the setback, he still managed 42 tackles, an interception, and five pass breakups—demonstrating his continued presence as a force on defense.

Before college, McGee was a standout at Wichita Northwest High School, where he led his team to a state runner-up finish in 2020. A team captain and all-state selection, he also competed in basketball and track and field. He held scholarship offers from several programs, including Army and Air Force, but chose Missouri State as the place to pursue his college career, pursuing a major in exercise and movement science.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.