Sacramento State mourns loss of football player

Sacramento, CA – Sacramento State football player John Bloomfield died Sunday morning after spending nearly a month in a coma.

The 22-year-old senior defensive end from East Palo Alto, Calif., was treated for a deteriorating lung on Sept. 19 at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento after it had collapsed following Sac State's season opener against New Mexico State on Aug. 30. He had three surgeries before lapsing into the coma.

"My thoughts and prayers are with John's family," Sacramento State coach Marshall Sperbeck said in a university release. "Our football team is saddened by the loss of one of our leaders. John was an outstanding person, player and teammate who will leave a lasting impression on all of us."

According to the Sacramento Bee, Bloomfield was known by his teammates, coaches, family and friends as being energetic, hard working and determined. He was the first member of his family to attend college and was on track to graduate with a degree in ethnic studies. He was a student at nearby Sierra College before enrolling at Sacramento State in 2011.

"We have lost a member of our family," Sacramento State athletic director Terry Wanless. "John was a young man who brightened the lives of all those he touched. He was a great example of someone who took on the challenges of life and found a way to make it better."