After the sudden loss of Isaiah Hazel in a July 2024 automobile accident, his parents have turned grief into action by establishing the Isaiah Lee Hazel Foundation, a tribute that already looks to support a fellow teammate.
The foundation's inaugural award was given to Joshua Simmons, a walk‑on defensive lineman who will use the grant to cover essential meal expenses, highlighting how the organization seeks to ease everyday burdens for young athletes.
The crash that claimed Hazel's life also took the lives of Khyree Jackson and Anthony Lytton Jr., two other promising players whose careers were cut short, underscoring the fragile nature of life off the field.
Hazel himself had worn the colors of both Maryland and Charlotte during his collegiate tenure, leaving a footprint at two programs before his untimely death.
A lasting tribute on the field
The foundation's first scholarship to Simmons is more than a financial boost; it is a symbolic passing of the torch, reminding current and future players that the bonds forged in practice endure beyond the final whistle.
Anthony Lytton, who previously starred at Florida State before moving to Penn State, and Khyree Jackson, who also wore the garnet and gold at Florida State, are remembered not only for their athletic contributions but also for the camaraderie they fostered among teammates.
Through the foundation, the Hazel family hopes to extend a network of support that goes beyond scholarships, aiming to cultivate a community where former teammates can thrive after their playing days end.