A former college football star passed away this week. He was only 31. USC’s football program announced this evening that former Trojans’ star Kevin Ellison, a three-time Rose Bowl winner and team captain, died this week. The Trojans announced the tough news on Twitter. “FightOnForever, Kevin Ellison. The former USC captain and 3-time Rose Bowl winner died this week. He was 31,” they wrote. #FightOnForever, Kevin Ellison. The former USC captain and 3-time Rose Bowl winner died this week. He was 31. pic.twitter.com/fDGatdQuMH — USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) October 6, 2018 Former USC star Brian Cushing took to Instagram to express his condolences: “This hurts more than anything I could’ve ever imagined. Kev you were the best friend and teammate anyone could’ve asked for. Coming in as freshman together I always admired your heart and dedication. I’m going to miss you bro forever. RIP,” he wrote. Ellison starred at USC and had a brief career in the NFL. He was a sixth-round pick in 2009 and played for the Chargers and Seahawks. Rest in peace, Kevin.<doc-sep>Former safety Kevin Ellison played at USC from 2005-2008. (Getty) USC announced Saturday that former safety Kevin Ellison died earlier in the week. He was 31. Ellison played at USC from 2005-2008. His started as a sophomore in 2006 and as a junior in 2007, combining for over 120 tackles in those two seasons. He had 43 tackles in eight games in a 2008 senior season that was plagued by a knee injury. Chris Ellison said his brother was walking along a freeway in the San Fernando Valley at the time of his death. “He was disoriented and didn’t know where he was at,” Chris Ellison told the Los Angeles Times. “I’m sure he was trying to come home and find his family. We love him so much.” No cause of death was listed. #FightOnForever, Kevin Ellison. The former USC captain and 3-time Rose Bowl winner died this week. He was 31. pic.twitter.com/fDGatdQuMH — USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) October 6, 2018 USC was 46-6 in Ellison’s time with the team. Ellison was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played in nine games that season and had 50 total tackles. That was his only NFL season. In 2012 Ellison was charged with arson while he was playing for the Spokane Shock in the Arena Football League. Ellison lived in an apartment and allegedly set his bed on fire with a marijuana cigar. He was cut from the team after his arrest and was ordered by a judge to undergo a mental health evaluation. Story continues From the Spokesman-Review in 2012: Kevin Marcus Ellison, 25, who was dismissed from the Spokane Shock arena football team after his arrest June 14, repeatedly claimed to be Jesus Christ, including to an elderly woman who was at the hospital when Ellison was treated for smoke inhalation, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Aine Ahmed. “He may have some mental issues,” Ahmed said. Ellison also told Shock general manager Ryan Rigmaiden “that he was Jesus Christ, and that he was part of the rapture, and that God told him to start the fire,” Ahmed said. “He did not believe it (the fire) was going to harm him because God told him he’d protect him.” Ellison told Rigmaiden he started the fire with a marijuana blunt. – – – – – – – Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. More from Yahoo Sports: • Texas shakes up CFP picture with upset of No. 7 Oklahoma • Marcus Smart ejected from Cavs-Celtics scuffle with J.R. Smith • Seahawks’ Thomas gets fined from NFL for flipping off sideline • Portugal Prime Minister defends Ronaldo after rape allegations<doc-sep>Former USC safety and team captain Kevin Ellison died last week while walking along a freeway in Southern California, it was reported Monday. He was 31. The school confirmed Ellison' death in a social media post Saturday with a photo of him during his USC playing days and the hashtag "FightOnForever." Chris Ellison told the Los Angeles Times that his brother was walking along the 5 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley at the time of his death. "He was disoriented and didn't know where he was at," Chris Ellison said. "I'm sure he was trying to come home and find his family. We love him so much." The California Highway Patrol received reports of someone running across the freeway late Thursday night. Records from the Los Angeles County coroner's office show Kevin Ellison died on a freeway. No cause of death was listed. An exam is pending. The Times also reported that Ellison's family plans to donate his brain to Boston University researchers who are studying chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is linked to repeated brain damage, including concussions suffered by football players. "We all played football," Chris Ellison told The Times. "We know the risk that comes with it. Does it have some impact? I’m sure it did. But I don’t know enough about the research to say for certain." The Inglewood native, who played for the Trojans from 2005 to 2008, was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection known for delivering hard hits. The San Diego Chargers drafted him in the sixth round in 2009. He played nine games for the team, then briefly joined the offseason roster for the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. "Kevin was liked and loved by everybody," Chris Ellison said. "His smile and personality would light up a room." Ellison faced federal arson charges in 2012 while playing for the Arena Football League's Spokane Shock after he caused $50,000 in damage by setting his bed on fire at the Big Trout Lodge in Liberty Lake, Washington. According to court records cited by The Times, Ellison said God told him to set the fire. The case was eventually dismissed after Ellison was ordered to pay more than $80,000 in restitution. Chris Ellison said his brother struggled with mental health issues in recent years. "My mom and sister and dad and brother did everything they could," Chris Ellison told The Times.<doc-sep>#FightOnForever, Kevin Ellison. The former USC captain and 3-time Rose Bowl winner died this week. He was 31. pic.twitter.com/fDGatdQuMH<doc-sep>
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – An acclaimed former USC football player died while walking along a freeway in the San Fernando Valley last week under undisclosed circumstances. Thirty-one-year-old Kevin Ellison, who played safety for USC between 2005 and 2008, died Thursday, Oct. 4, while walking along the 5 Freeway, according to the Los Angeles Times. The exact location and time of death was not released. According to Los Angeles County coroner’s office records, the cause of death was not confirmed pending an investigation. It was unclear if he was struck by a vehicle. Ellison’s brother, Chris Ellison told the Times that Kevin “was disoriented and didn’t know where he was at” when he died. “I’m sure he was trying to come home and find his family. We love him so much,” Chris Ellison said. USC also confirmed the death in a Twitter post Saturday: “#FightOnForever, Kevin Ellison. The former USC captain and 3-time Rose Bowl winner died this week. He was 31.” Retired Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, a teammate of Ellison at USC, honored Ellison in an Instagram post. “This hurts more than anything I could’ve ever imagined,” Cushing wrote. “Kev you were the best friend and teammate anyone could’ve asked for. Coming in as freshman together I always admired your heart and dedication. I’m going to miss you bro forever. RIP.” The Inglewood native was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played nine games for the team, then briefly joined the offseason roster for the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. According to 247Sports.com, while playing for the Chargers, Ellison was arrested in Redondo Beach in 2010 on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance while driving after police found 100 Vicodin pills in his car. Kevin Ellison faced federal arson charges in 2012 while playing for the Arena Football League’s Spokane Shock after he caused $50,000 in damage by setting his bed on fire at the Big Trout Lodge in Liberty Lake, Wash. According to court records cited by The Times, Ellison said God told him to set the fire. The case was eventually dismissed after Ellison was ordered to pay more than $80,000 in restitution. Chris Ellison said his brother struggled with mental health issues in recent years. “My mom and sister and dad and brother did everything they could,” Chris Ellison told the Times. (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)