Unlv Offensive Lineman Ben Christman Die

On By Littum

Columbus, Ohio - April 15: Ben Christman #71 in Ohio State Buckeyes goes off the field after the spring match at Ohio Stadium on April 15, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

Ben Christman played in Ohio State and Kentucky before transferring to UNLV. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

Former Kentucky and Ohio State Offensive Lineman and recent UNLV transfer Ben Christman was found dead on Tuesday in an off-campus apartment in Las Vegas. He was 21.

Christman had been transferred to UNLV during the high season after two years at Kentucky. He played in 12 games for wildcats over 2023 and 2024.

“Our team’s heart is broken to hear about Ben’s departure,” said UNLV coach Dan Mullen in a statement. “Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our leadership committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship for all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and everyone who knew him.

Before he arrived in Kentucky, Christman was on Ohio State’s list for two seasons. He red shirt during 2021 and appeared in a game in 2022.

Ohio-native was a four-star recruits from Richfield. He was ranked at the No. 3 view in the state of Ohio and No. 12 Offensive Tackle Recruits in the ’21 class. He was also No. 90 recruits in the country.

Christman chose UNLV in December after the school hired the mullet to replace Barry Odom. UNLV went to the Mountain West title game during the 2024 season, and this success helped get the ODOM main coach job at Purdue.

“We are heart -bred by the sudden passing of Ben Christman, a new member of our football program and UNLV community,” said UNLV -Athletical Director Erick Harper. “Ben recently came to us as a transfer student and had already had a meaningful influence on his teammates and coaches. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates in this extremely difficult time.”