By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A former standout Northwest Missouri State University football player has died at the age of 29.
Head Coach Rich Wright confirmed D. J. Gnader, a standout defensive player on the 2013 championship team, has died.
Wright Tweeted, “One of our former warriors left this earth today far to (sic) young. DJ Gnader was a quintessential Bearcat. He was intense, driven, and passionate. Our hearts break for his family. But I promise Bostwick met him at heaven’s gate. RIP DJ.”
Wright refers to former Defensive Coordinator Scott Bostwick, who was named Northwest Missouri State Head Coach, but died before he could coach a game.
Gnader joined the Bearcat football team in 2009, after completing an All-State career as a linebacker at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was a redshirt in the 2009 season, then received a medical redshirt in 2010. Gnader started in all 15 games in the 2013 championship season, in which he received Third Team All-America honors as a linebacker. In 2014, Gnader was named first team All-MIAA.
No details have been released about his death.