A Bay Area college football program is grieving after one of its promising young players was killed in a weekend car crash.
Ja’Marion Grace, affectionately known as “Pop” by his family, played defensive back for the College of San Mateo. His loved ones are now mourning the loss of the 19-year-old freshman.
Grace was riding as a passenger in a vehicle that veered out of control on Highway 101 near the Yerba Buena Road exit in San Jose shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, officials said.
He was thrown from the vehicle in the collision. Two of Grace’s College of San Mateo teammates were also inside the car and suffered injuries.
Mekhi Blackmon, a Cleveland Browns cornerback who played at College of San Mateo in 2017, contributed $1,000 to a GoFundMe campaign created to help Grace’s family with funeral costs.
The college honored Grace in a statement Tuesday, remembering him for the “infectious energy” he brought to the team.
“Pop wasn’t just a teammate — he was a brother. He lit up every room he walked into with his infectious energy and smile,” the statement said.
“Whether he was dancing in the locker room, cracking jokes in team meetings, or showing up for his teammates off the field, Pop gave everything he had each and every day.”
Grace’s family gathered Tuesday in Vacaville for a memorial service celebrating his life.
“He was a young man trying to find his way, but he was determined. He was dedicated, and he had so much life ahead of him,” his mother, Ashley Grant, told KRON4.
The College of San Mateo football team has opened the season with a 3-1 record. Grace recorded a tackle during the program’s Sept. 12 victory over Butte.
