The Associated Press is reporting that Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say former West Virginia University receiver Chris Henry has died, one day after suffering serious injuries upon falling out of the back of a pickup.

Police say Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. He was 26.

A statement from West Virginia University football coach Bill Stewart:

“The entire Mountaineer football family is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Chris Henry. He is in my thoughts, as well as those of his former teammates, right now. We say ‘Once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer,’ and Chris was a big part of our success during his time here. For me, he was a real joy to be around on a daily basis. He always came to work and loved to play football. Our hearts and prayers go out to his mother and family. He will be greatly missed.”

Henry’s West Virginia University biography:

Chris Henry
WR, 6-5, 195
Two-year letterman
Belle Chasse, La.

First team all-BIG EAST in 2004 … tied with Darius Reynaud fop WVU’s single-season TD reception record (12) ? second in WVU career TD receptions (22) and eighth in career yardage (1,878) ... 52 catches for 872 yards in 2004 … four receptions for 86 yards in win over East Carolina, including a 60-yard TD from Marshall … then-career-best seven catches against UCF gained 93 yards with 2 scores … game-winning touchdown on a seven-yard third-down catch from Marshall in overtime against Maryland … total of five catches for 72 yards against the Terps … 2 TDs of 5 and 3 yards in the James Madison game; 7 total catches for 74 yards against JMU … five catches gained 42 yards at Virginia Tech … 49-yard TD against Connecticut … pair of scores against Syracuse of 23 and 25 yards; long catch was for 47 yards versus the Orange … 119 yards on 4 catches in the win at Rutgers, including a 39-yard touchdown and a 69-yard gain … was ejected for two unsportsmanlike penalties … sat out first half of Temple game, but had a 40-yard TD catch against the Owls in the third quarter … 118 yards receiving on career-best 8 catches against BC, with a 6-yard TD … did not play against Pitt … 3 catches for 61 yards in Gator Bowl … ranked 29th in NCAA receiving yards per game (83.8) in 2003 … BIG EAST rookie of the year and second team all-conference … led team with 41 catches for 1,006 yards and 10 scores … scored a touchdown on his first three receptions … first career catch was a 37-yard score from Marshall at East Carolina … also had a 32-yard TD catch at ECU … 11-yard TD from Marshall vs. Cincinnati … team-high three knockdowns at Maryland … four catches gained 75 yards at Miami … 176 yards on four catches vs. Rutgers for the 10th-best effort in WVU history … 83-yard TD from Marshall vs. Rutgers was a then-Mountaineer Field record and the fourth longest TD catch in Mountaineer records … pair of catches for 16 yards in the Virginia Tech win … 13-yard reception in UCF win … 132 yards on five catches at Boston College, including a long gain of 47 and touchdowns from Hales of 37 and 32 yards … four catches gained 75 yards in the Pitt win … WVU record 209 yards receiving on six catches at Syracuse, with touchdowns from Marshall of 67 and 24 yards … 42-yard score in the Temple win … three catches gained 46 yards in Gator Bowl … BIG EAST player of week: Syracuse … Offensive Champion: Syracuse … did not participate in football in 2002 … offensive player of the year at Belle Chasse (La.) High … born May, 1983 … bowl trips: 2004 Gator, 2005 Gator.

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