A&M Football Player Dies in Wreck

COLLEGE STATION — Senior Texas A&M offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio, 22, of Jacksonville, died Thursday in a highway crash near the town of Normangee. Villavisencio was on his was home to Jacksonville when the accident occurred.

Villavisencio was driving north of Farm Road 39 Thursday when he swerved to avoid a buzzard in the road and his car hit an 18-wheeler in the southbound lane, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Villavisencio was killed in the accident. The driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured, KBTX-TV in Bryan reported.

Villavisencio was radiological health engineering major. Texas A&M said he was among teammates earlier Thursday as they presented gifts for children and families at the Twin City Mission in Bryan, Texas.

At Jacksonville High School, he earned Second Team All-State recognition from both The Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writer’s Association, was named a first-team all-district offensive lineman as a junior and a senior, and earned first-team all-state academic honors as a senior in 2007-08. He was coached by Randy Copeland at Jacksonville.

Former head coach Mike Sherman, who was fired several weeks ago, remembered Villavisencio as “one of the most respectful and high character players I have ever coached. The world lost a very special person today. My heart aches for his mom, dad and sister, all of whom were so dear to him.”