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Former Illini player dies in workout at new school

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — Campus officials say a football player at Winona State University who recently transferred from Illinois has died while working out with teammates.

Winona State said in a news release that 22-year-old Shawn Afryl died Monday during a workout at Maxwell Field on campus. Information about his cause of death was not immediately available.

School officials said the 6-foot-3, 310-pound offensive lineman had recently enrolled after his transfer.

Illini coach Tim Beckman said in a statement that his players were saddened to hear of the death of a “great teammate.”

Winona State coach Tom Sawyer said Afryl had shown maturity and leadership in his short time at the Division II school.

Afryl is a graduate of Niles West High School in Skokie, Ill., in the Chicago suburbs.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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