Mason Alexander, a freshman football player at the University of Pittsburgh, was killed Saturday night in a car accident in his hometown of Fishers, Indiana, authorities confirmed.
The 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Alexander was a passenger in a 2016 BMW traveling south on Florida Road when the driver attempted to pass a 2015 Toyota before reaching a hillcrest. The driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, causing the BMW to veer off the road, crash into a tree, and catch fire.
A standout cornerback at Hamilton Southeastern High School near Indianapolis, Alexander was a highly touted recruit, ranked in ESPN’s 300 for the class of 2025. He signed with Pitt in December, enrolled early, and was preparing to join the team for spring practice.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi expressed his devastation over the loss.
“I received a call this morning that no parent, teacher, or coach ever wants to get—the news of the sudden loss of a young and promising life,” Narduzzi said in a statement. “Our entire program is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Mason Alexander’s passing. Even in his short time at Pitt, he made a great impression on all of us. Mason was proud and excited to be a Panther, and we felt the same way about having him in our Pitt family. He will always be a Panther to us.”
Alexander’s impact reached beyond the football field. Peyton Daniels, a former high school teammate who now plays at Butler, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.
“Mason lit up every room he was in. Brought joy and playfulness to everything and everyone. He could change the entire direction of your day with one interaction. Mason is the embodiment of exceptional. Rest Easy 15. Love forever,” Daniels wrote on X.
The crash remains under investigation.
