EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Sadly, an NFL draft pick from the local area passed away.

Devastating news hit the football world when AJ Simon, a star at Pocono Mountain West High School, and later Bloomsburg University and the University at Albany, died Tuesday at the age of 25.

Albany issued this statement regarding Simon’s passing saying:

“He was a tremendous young man and an even greater teammate, and served as a pillar of the Great Danes program for the past two years. Prior to Albany, Simson was a first-team all-PSAC East defensive lineman at Bloomsburg. Him leading the team in tackles for loss and leading the entire conference in sacks with 9.5 last season. Simon was a first-team all-conference member for Albany and finished the year with 12.5 sacks before declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.

At this time the cause of Simon’s death is unknown, as soon as we know that information we will pass it on.