The Sacramento State football family lost one of their own this week. Former offensive lineman Ivan Garza passed away after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a road in his hometown of Delano, California. He was 25 years old.

Sacramento State Football broke the news on X on Wednesday.

"REST IN PEACE IVAN GARZA. We give our deepest condolences to Ivan's friends and family. He will be remembered as a wonderful teammate, player, and Hornet," the program wrote.

The Delano Police Department said officers responded just after 4 a.m. to reports of a vehicle striking a pedestrian along Glenwood Street. The driver, who was a 32-year-old woman, stayed at the scene and was cooperative. The investigation is still ongoing.

"On the field, he played a large role in the success of the team during his tenure and helped the Hornets to three conference titles. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, former teammates and coaches during this difficult time," the team told CBS News Sacramento.

Garza grew up in Delano and attended Robert F. Kennedy High School, where he became a standout on the offensive line. He joined Sacramento State in 2019, redshirted that first season and then had 2020 wiped out by COVID-19 before finally getting his chance.

He made the most of it. Over the next three seasons, Garza appeared in 38 games for the Hornets and was part of Sacramento State's 2021 and 2022 Big Sky Championship teams, with the 2022 season also marking the first undefeated regular season in program history.

He earned All-Big Sky honorable mention honors in 2023 after starting all 13 games that year. In 2024, he stepped away from football to support his family back in Delano.

Ivan Garza’s family has set up a GoFundMe in his memory

A GoFundMe has been started in Garza's memory to support his family during this incredibly difficult time.

"Beyond his accomplishments on the football field, Ivan will be remembered for the person he was—a gentle giant with a kind heart, an infectious smile, and a genuine love for his family, friends, teammates, and everyone fortunate enough to know him," his family wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Garza grew up in Delano. Played his high school ball there. Went back home after his football career ended. That community raised him, and he never forgot it. The people there are feeling this loss in a way that goes beyond football.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo played alongside Garza at Sacramento State during the 2021 and 2022 championship runs. He posted a tribute on Instagram on Wednesday.

He shared a photo in his story of Garza alongside the years 2001-2026. "R.I.P brutha garz. Wasn't your time at all," Skattebo wrote, per Athlon Sports.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community

Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore