Freshman football player at Saint Augustine's dies unexpectedly

A freshman football player for Saint Augustine's University died Sunday afternoon, the university said in a statement.

Ronald Cunningham, 19, of Dinwiddie, Va., got sick on campus around 11 a.m. and was taken by ambulance to WakeMed, where he passed away just before 2 p.m., spokeswoman Shelley Willingham-Hinton said.

Willingham-Hinton said a cause of death hasn't been confirmed but that no foul play is suspected.

"On behalf of the Saint Augustine's University community, our deepest condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends," Rodney Gaddy, chairman of the Saint Augustine’s University Board of Trustees, said in a statement.

Falcons athletic director George Williams also released a statement.

"We are saddened by the passing of Ronald Cunningham. He was a member of the Saint Aug family, so everyone is grieving right now," Williams said. "He was an outstanding student-athlete and also an outstanding person. He was fun to be around. Our heart bleeds for the family."

A memorial prayer vigil is planned for 5 p.m. Monday afternoon, the university said.

Cunningham, who stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 285 pounds, wore the No. 63 jersey.