Babatunde "Baba" Agbaje '23 of Fayetteville died Monday night, according to the university. He was a member of the Mercer soccer team and finance student in the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business.
Agbaje, 21, was playing a pickup game Monday afternoon when he collapsed on a field at the Outdoor Recreation Complex and went into cardiac arrest, Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones told 13WMAZ. He was transported via ambulance to Atrium Health Navicent, where he was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m.
The cause of death has not been determined, an email from the university states. An autopsy is planned.
“Our hearts go out to the Agbaje family on their tragic loss and ask the Mercer family to keep them in their thoughts and prayers,” Mercer President William D. Underwood said. “Baba was an outstanding student, having been named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll, and was a valued teammate to other members of the soccer team. Words cannot convey the extent of our sadness over Baba’s passing.”
The university recommends any student in need of counseling contact Mercer Police at (478) 301-2970 after hours and ask to speak to a counselor or contact Counseling and Psychological Services between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (478) 301-2862.
Mary Helene Hall ‘23 is a journalism and women’s and gender studies student who has worked for The Cluster throughout her time at Mercer. She has held internships at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and AL.com, where she covered a variety of topics including politics, crime and culture.
