The parents of a Bucknell football player who died two days after collapsing during a team practice in 2024 filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Wednesday against the university in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, according to a copy of the complaint.

The parents of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., who was an 18-year-old freshman when he died July 12, allege the university failed to take action that could have prevented their son’s death, according to the complaint filed with the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.

Dickey’s death occurred two days after his first practice as an offensive lineman with the Bucknell football team, a Division I program that competes in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The complaint characterizes Dickey’s death as “completely avoidable’’ and says he died from medical complications stemming from sickle cell trait and rhabdomyolysis.

“Rhabdomyolysis is a rare muscle injury where your muscles break down,’’ according to the Cleveland Clinic. “This is a life-threatening condition that can happen after an injury or excessive exercise without rest.’’

Studies have found that ‘sickle cell trait elevates the risks of exertional rhabdomyolysis and death,’ according to the National Institutes of Health.

On June 28, Dickey completed the NCAA-mandated sickle cell testing, which revealed he had sickle cell trait, and his medical records were uploaded electronically to Bucknell’s medical reporting platform, according to the complaint.

Two weeks prior to Dickey reporting to Bucknell, according to the complaint, Bucknell trainer Rayna Murphy called Dickey’s mother, Nicole, “to discuss CJ’s positive sickle cell trait test. Nicole was assured that adequate precautions would be taken to accommodate this condition.’

But Bucknell did not take the necessary precautions, Dickey’s parents allege.

‘The death of a student is always a tragic loss,’ Bucknell University said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. “Bucknell University is aware of the lawsuit filed by the parents of CJ Dickey. While the University will not comment on pending litigation, we again extend heartfelt sympathies to CJ’s family, and we will continue to focus on our most important priority — the health and safety of all Bucknell students.’

Dickey’s parents claim the incident that led to the onset of rhabdomyolysis took place during practice and involved hazing. “Given Defendant Bucknell’s knowledge of CJ’s condition, Defendant Bucknell acted with reckless indifference to his health and safety by causing, coercing, or forcing him to participate in the initiation ritual of pointless, unnecessary yet brutal exercise routines, and by intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly promoting or facilitating the same,’ the complaint states.

“On its own, and especially in light of CJ’s condition, the NCAA’s guidelines, and the standard of care followed by other universities for sickle trait athletes, the activity did not constitute reasonable or customary athletic training.’’

Dickey collapsed, according to the complaint, after some of the freshmen “messed up’ and were forced by Mark Kulbis, then the stength and conditioning coach at Bucknell, to perform “up-downs.’ Up-downs, also known as ‘burpees,’ can be used as a conditioning drill.

“Students who were present at the workout have reported that CJ was clearly in distress during the 100 up-downs,’’ the complaint said. “He was falling behind the rest of the group and could not keep up. The other freshman players were cheering on CJ and trying to motivate him. The freshman players could tell that CJ was in distress but Kulbis did nothing. Instead of telling CJ to sit it out, he pushed him on.’’

Dickey eventually collapsed, according to the complaint.

Bucknell president John C. Bravman and Bucknell head football coach Dave Cecchini, who along with three athletic officials are named as defendants in the lawsuit, “were well aware of Kulbis’ practice of cruelly abusing freshman players on the first day of practice,’’ according to the complaint.

Kulbis no longer is employed by Bucknell, according to the complaint. His LinkedIn page indicates he stopped working at the university in January. Jermaine Truax, who was the school’s vice president and director of athletics and recreation at the time of Dickey’s death and is a defendant, was fired March 13, according to the complaint. Truax is not listed on the school’s athletic staff directory.

Asked why Kulbis and Truax no longer work at the school, Bucknell director of media relations, Mike Ferlazzo, told USA TODAY, ‘We don’t comment on personnel matters.’

Tim Pavlechko, who is listed as interim vice president and director of athletics and recreation, was deputy director of athletics at the time of Dickey’s death and is a defendant. Cecchini, who has been Buckell’s head football coach since 2019, also is a defendant. He remains the team’s head coach.

The complaint states that about two hours after collapsing at the July 10 practice, Dickey was being treated at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg.

His condition rapidly worsened.

Two days later, after Dickey had emergency surgery, he was revived multiple times as his condition grew more dire, according to the complaint, which said his parents ultimately “made the most difficult decision of their lives. They told the doctors to stop trying to resuscitate CJ and let him go back to God in peace.’’

The parents allege the university provided no information concerning how Dickey died but say in the complaint it could have been prevented. The complaint cites an NCAA-published document about sickle cell trait in which coaches are warned that athletes with the genetic condition “can begin to experience symptoms after only 1-3 minutes of sprinting, or in any other full exertion or sustained effort, thus quickly increasing the risk of complications.’

“In short, Defendant Bucknell’s coaching and training staff had CJ’s medical records and ultimately cleared him to play,’ the complaint further states. “They were well aware CJ carried the sickle cell trait and knew that it could lead to life-threatening outcomes if widely known and well-established protocols were not implemented for him.’’

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid will officially undergo surgery in the coming days.

He was officially ruled out for the rest of the season in late February.

“Following consultations with medical experts, it has been determined that Joel Embiid will undergo arthroscopic surgery next week to address his left knee,” according to a statement released by the team.

He had been dealing with a knee injury that had kept him sidelined earlier in the season.

It’s been an eventful 2024-25 season for Embiid off the court. It started with the NBA fining the Sixers $100,000 due to statements made about Embiid’s health. Embiid was also suspended for three games without pay after he shoved a columnist in the locker room during a confrontation over something the columnist wrote.

Joel Embiid’s last game of 2024-25 season

The 2022-23 MVP has not played since the 76ers’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 22. He had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes of play.

He experienced swelling after the game and had consulted with doctors to consider options about his knee.

The center averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in just 19 games this season.

What is Joel Embiid’s injury history?

In December, Embiid suffered a sinus fracture when Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin’s hand hit the 76ers’ center in the final seconds before halftime. Mathurin was collecting an offensive rebound and attempting to lay the ball back up.

Embiid has dealt with facial injuries before. He suffered a left orbital fracture in 2018 and a right orbital fracture in 2022.

He suffered a significant foot injury in 2014 that delayed his NBA debut by two full seasons. He’s dealt with knee injuries throughout his career, including a left knee injury in 2024 that derailed a potential MVP season.

The 2024-25 season did not end the way USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins would have liked, but the talented sophomore proved herself over the course of it.

Watkins was named the women’s 2025 Naismith National Player of the Year on Wednesday. She averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, leading the Trojans to a 31-4 record and 17-1 Big Ten conference mark. USC earned a No. 1 seed in the women’s NCAA Tournament but saw their season cut short in the Elite Eight after Watkins’ season ended due to a knee injury in the second round.

Paige Bueckers and UConn took down the Watkins-less Trojans 78-64 on Monday. Watkins was named the Player of the Year over Bueckers, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, and cross-town rival Lauren Betts of UCLA.

Watkins was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year and was given unanimous first-team All-American honors. She saw her season end on March 24 against the Bulldogs in second-round action when she became entangled with a Bulldogs’ defender on a fastbreak attempt. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Watkins tore her ACL.

She addressed the injury for the first time on Tuesday.

‘Thank you for all the incredible love and support,’ Watkins posted to her Instagram story. ‘Seeing all your messages and kind words has meant the world to me — ya’ll have given me so much hope.

‘Right now, my heart is with my teammates — I wish I could have been out there battling, but I couldn’t be prouder of the fight we’ve fought together. Thank you all.’

JuJu Watkins stats at USC

Here’s a look at Watkins’ career stats at USC in her first two seasons:

2023-24: 27.1 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 40.1% from the field (31.9% 3-point shooting)
2024-25: 23.9 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, 2.2 steals per game and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field (32.5% 3-point shooting)

One year after a record run on quarterbacks in the NFL draft, the prevailing theme around this year’s crop of college passers is uncertainty.

While Cam Ward appears to be solidifying his case to be the Tennessee Titans’ pick with the No. 1 overall selection, the upcoming group at the position hasn’t sparked the same excitement that Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and the four other signal-callers taken in the top 12 picks ignited last year. And in what’s viewed as a lackluster year for top-end talent behind center, some teams might be wary about the available choices – at least when the price tag is a premium pick.

Still, this class also has a chance to split from last year’s on Day 2 and beyond, with several developmental options in the mix after the 2024 group had a record 137 selections between the last first-round quarterback selection (Bo Nix) and the next pick at the position (Spencer Rattler in the fifth round).

Here’s USA TODAY Sports’ ranking of the top 10 quarterbacks available in the 2025 NFL draft:

1. Cam Ward, Miami (Fla.)

Between his attacking mentality and an embrace of off-schedule plays, Ward again and again bets on himself to defy the odds. Maybe that should come as no surprise for a player who began his career at the Football Championship Subdivision level with Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State and again to Miami. But even when his confidence veers into the territory of hubris, Ward more often than not finds a way to cash in on his sizable gambles.

At the next level, his devil-may-care approach might have to be dialed back at least a little bit, with defenses sure to test whether he’ll take the easier wins that he so far has frequently passed up. But given his comfort reading the entire field, making adjustments at the line of scrimmage and operating from within the pocket, Ward is far more than just an improvisational aficionado. So long as he is paired with a coaching staff prepared to ride out some early turbulence stemming from his playing style, Ward sizes up as an exciting offensive catalyst capable of elevating any group he joins.

2. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

From the start of his career, Sanders has been defined by his ability to navigate pressure. The son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders – as well as the coach’s star pupil – has conquered a singular set of challenges, as he delivered both Jackson State and Colorado to new heights above even his substantial celebrity. Through it all, he has exhibited a never-say-die mentality that has become both his foremost strength and most pressing concern.

Sanders’ toughness and confidence are unimpeachable after a career marked by insufficient protection. Yet while the 6-2, 212-pounder frequently overcame an unrelenting onslaught of pass rushers, he often exacerbated the issue by holding onto the ball too long and drifting backward in the pocket. With his margin of error getting considerably thinner at the next level, he will have to fine-tune his internal clock, especially given that he might not be able to replicate the off-platform and out-of-structure throws he grew accustomed to making for the Buffaloes. But as a precise pocket passer, Sanders could thrive as an efficient distributor if he lands in the right offense with sufficient support.

3. Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

As the triggerman for Lane Kiffin’s offense, Dart enjoyed a steady ascension over three years with Mississippi after transferring from USC. While an attack that affords plenty of easy decisions has left questions about how the 6-2, 223-pounder will adapt to much more challenging circumstances, Dart established a strong track record for executing within structure and making plays as a runner when things broke down.

Most of Dart’s physical attributes are merely solid rather than spectacular, and his inexperience throwing with anticipation looms as a potential stumbling block. But as a signal-caller who thrives attacking defenses in the intermediate level and over the middle, he can carve out a place for himself in an offense that accentuates his strengths.

4. Jalen Milroe, Alabama

As both a runner and deep thrower, Milroe stands out as this class’ pre-eminent big-play threat. The 6-2, 217-pounder is something to behold when he’s fully in sync, as he’s equally comfortable uncorking passes downfield as he is taking off for a long gain with his legs. But there’s still a wild variance in his play even from snap to snap, as the transition from Nick Saban’s staff to a Kalen DeBoer-orchestrated offense revealed Milroe still has plenty of work to do as a pocket passer.

Adapting to the short-to-intermediate game remains a challenge for Milroe, who too often rips passes with little regard for touch or timing. And after throwing for just four touchdowns and eight interceptions in his final seven regular-season games in 2024, he has to account for critical lapses in his footwork and decision-making. While his running ability should immediately translate to the next level and afford him some flexibility as he acclimates to an even faster game, Milroe can’t be counted on as much more than a developmental signal-caller early in his career unless he irons out his issues in short order.

5. Tyler Shough, Louisville

At 6-5 and 219 pounds, Shough is comfortable whipping throws or delivering touch strikes. He also can manipulate coverages more comfortably than many of his peers.

What’s the rub, then, for a Day 2 prospect with several key first-round traits? For one, Shough only has one year of consistent production in a nomadic career that featured him spending three years apiece at Oregon and Texas Tech before he landed at Louisville. Injuries also factor greatly into his evaluation, as he twice suffered a broken collarbone and then broke his fibula. And for a player who will turn 26 as a rookie, there’s significant concern about whether he still has room to grow and stick as a starter.

6. Quinn Ewers, Texas

The No. 1 overall recruit was a three-year starter who twice led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff after transferring from Ohio State, but he never truly became the scintillating passer many envisioned. There were flashes of promise, to be sure, with his rapid release and deft touch on display at times in a promising 2023 campaign in which he completed 69% of his passes. But despite tossing 31 touchdowns last season, Ewers didn’t make the leap many envisioned. The 6-2, 214-pounder still gets stuck on his first read far too often, and he’s frequently robotic rather than instinctive in the face of pressure. Though his arm strength and ability to deliver off platform might have been his calling cards in high school, he’s not strong enough in either area to compensate for shortcomings with his footwork and decision-making,

7. Kyle McCord, Syracuse

For better or worse, every play has the potential to be an adventure with McCord, who’s never afraid to let it rip. The aggression has served him well in spots, with the Ohio State transfer reviving his career with 34 touchdown passes in his lone season at Syracuse. But his 12 interceptions highlighted that he often paid for his willingness to throw into tight coverage, and he lacks the upper-echelon arm strength to extend this style to the pros. His best bet to have a shot as a starter somewhere down the line might be to rely more on his touch passing while he also learns to manipulate coverages better.

8. Will Howard, Ohio State

In leading the Buckeyes to the national championship last season, Howard was tasked with getting the ball in the hands of Ohio State’s myriad playmakers while generating just enough on his own. Still, the Kansas State transfer repeatedly got the job done. Howard can mostly be described as passable in many elements of his game, including his arm strength and field vision. But at 6-4 and 243 pounds with admirable toughness, he could be a trustworthy second-stringer.

9. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

A 5-11, 205-pound lefty who starred for three different schools, Gabriel is far from the picture of a typical quarterback prospect. But the Heisman Trophy finalist manages to mitigate some concerns about his physical limitations by operating quickly and with composure from the pocket. Attacking over the middle of the field is bound to be a problem for Gabriel, but he could fit as a backup for an offense that prizes his touch, anticipation and intelligence.

10. Max Brosmer, Minnesota

There’s nothing dazzling about the 6-2, 217-pound transfer from New Hampshire, who won’t threaten defenses deep or make many things happen on his own, particularly when a play breaks down. But he’s savvy and clean in his approach with a knack for making good decisions. That skill set could allow him to hang for a while as a backup.