Washington State QB Dead in Apparent Suicide

After backup Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski missed practice, police went to his Pullman apartment Tuesday to do a welfare check. They emerged with grim news: The 21-year-old was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head, and USA Today reports a suicide note was found at the scene. The Seattle Times reports the note's contents weren't disclosed; a rifle was also discovered. Pullman Police on Tuesday night confirmed it was an apparent suicide. ESPN reports Hilinski, a native of Claremont, California, had wrapped up his redshirt sophomore season and was slated to be the Cougars' starting quarterback next season.

Of the eight games he played in, KING5 describes the standout one: coming off the bench to help WSU triumph over Boise State in triple overtime, overcoming a 21-point deficit at one point. Hilinski's younger brother Ryan had this to say: "We, as a family, are grieving after receiving news that my brother, Tyler Hilinski took his own life this afternoon. We are in complete shock and disarray. Tyler was the kid that put a smile on everybody's face when they were down, especially his family. We will mourn the loss of Tyler for some time but celebrate the way he lived his life every day." (More quarterback stories.)