COLUMBUS, Ohio — Buckeye Nation is mourning the sudden death of former Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Haskins died Saturday morning after being struck by a vehicle in South Florida. He was 24 years old. 

Now that a few days have passed, one of his former teammates and Ohio State University Football Coach Ryan Day opened up about the tragedy. 

What You Need To Know

  • Former OSU quarterback Kory Curtis shared how devastating it’s been dealing with the death of close friend Dwayne Haskins

  • Ryan Day shared his thoughts on Haskins' death and what he meant to Ohio State

  • Both Curtis and Day said they want Haskins remembered for the kind and caring person he was outside of playing football

  • A candlelight vigil is planned for April 12 at 8 p.m. at Ohio Stadium

​​Dwayne Haskins was a Heisman Trophy finalist and record-breaking quarterback at Ohio State — who became a first-round pick in the NFL — he made it.

His sudden and untimely death this past Saturday has sent shock waves through the Ohio State community and sports world.  

Former OSU quarterback Kory Curtis said the loss of his best friend has devastated him. 

“He was my big brother,” Curtis said. “He just took me under his wing as soon as I got there. He taught me the playbook, which I was struggling with it at first. Helped me with everything. Not only on the field, but off.”

Curtis and Haskins were extremely close, always having each other’s backs. So when Curtis was recently struggling with life, Haskins came to his rescue. 

Day said the Buckeyes football program is hurting as it works to process such a tremendous loss. 

“It’s hard to wrap your mind around something like this, especially when it happened so tragically to a young person, especially someone who had such a big heart,” Day said.

Many will remember Haskins for what he accomplished while wearing the Scarlet and Gray, but Day said people should remember him as the caring person he was. 

“I think when you think about Dwayne you just think about the compassion that he had,” Day said. “He meant a lot to my family, meant a lot to this program. And he’s going to be sorely missed.” 

Curtis wants people to remember Haskins for his kind nature toward others. 

“He was just always there,” Curtis said. “One time I didn’t have money for gas, and stuff like that. He helped me out. Like [when] I’m struggling with my family, he’ll talk to me through it. Literally anything. He was there for you. And he wanted to live life to the fullest. I think that for the 24 years that he was alive, he did, truly.”

Curtis now plays at Gannon University in Pennsylvania, where Curtis plans to pay tribute to his fallen brother.

“I’m gonna change my number. I’m gonna wear No. 7 for him,” Curtis said. 

Day said Ohio State plans to honor Haskins on Saturday at the Spring Game. A candlelight vigil is also planned outside of Ohio Stadium on April 12 at 8 p.m.