(hawkeyesports.com)
OSKALOOSA, IOWA – Former Iowa Hawkeye Tyler Sash was found unresponsive Tuesday at his home in Oskaloosa and has died.
Sash, age 27, was found by a family member, according to multiple news reports. A cause of death has not been released by the state’s medical examiner’s office.
Playing for the Big Ten’s Iowa Hawkeyes as a defensive back and special teams, Sash started the final 34 games of career and had 37 career starts. He was a first-team all conference selection in 2010. He ranks fifth in team history in career interceptions with 13. He helped the team beat Georgia Tech in the 2010 Orange Bowl.
Sash was drafted in the sixth-round draft in 2011 by the New York Giants and was part of the team’s Super Bowl XLVI win.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
“We are all very saddened to hear about the untimely loss of Tyler,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “It is always so difficult when it involves someone this young. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Tyler’s family during this extremely difficult time – and we want them to know they are not in this alone. The commitment, passion, and excitement that Tyler brought to football and to life will always endear him to Hawkeye coaches, teammates, and fans. He touched our hearts in many ways and will be missed by all of us.”
The Oskaloosa, Iowa, native lettered from 2008-10 before declaring for the NFL Draft prior to his senior season.
Sash started the final 34 game of his Iowa career and had 37 career starts. He ranks fifth in career interceptions (13) and shares the Iowa single-game record with three thefts in a 35-3 win at Iowa State in 2009. He is Iowa’s career leader with 392 interception return yards, a total that ranks fourth all-time in the Big Ten. His 203 return yards in 2009 ties for second best in the Big Ten for a single season.
Sash earned first team All-Big Ten honors in both 2009 and 2010, and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award following each season. He earned Associated Press third team All-America honors in 2009 and was named to several freshman All-America squads in 2008.
Sash had an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 2009 win over Indiana, which ranks fifth longest in school history. He set Iowa bowl records for longest return (48 yards) and interception return yards (94) in Iowa’s 2009 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina. He concluded his Iowa career with 217 tackles and was twice a member of the UI Leadership Group.
