Bowie High football player collapses, dies during offseason workout

A Bowie High football player collapsed and died Thursday after school during an offseason workout.

The player was identified by a teammate and a former coach as Jonathan Nolon, a junior wide receiver and tight end who played on the Bulldogs' varsity team the past two seasons. He was 16.

Bowie police said that Nolon -- whose identity they did not release -- collapsed after running about three laps around the basketball court. The police said CPR was initiated and an attempt to revive him was made using a defibrillator.

According to the police, county rescue personnel went to the school and took Nolon to Bowie Health Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:54 p.m. after unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him.

Bowie football coach Lionel Macklin could not be reached for comment. Bowie Athletic Director Bob Estes referred all questions to a Prince George's school system spokeswoman, who later declined to comment until officials "learn all of the facts."

Those who worked and played with Nolon remembered a player who strived to improve on the field.

"A great kid, he was working out, trying to better himself," said Jae Jackson, who was Bowie's football coach from 2005 to 2007 and continues to work at the school as a crisis intervention resource teacher. He talked to Nolon in the hall at school earlier Thursday. "He had good size and wanted to try to go further with football. One of those kids you never heard anyone having a problem with. It's real shocking."

Nolon, listed at 6 feet 4 and 190 pounds, was a reserve this past season, but had begun to emerge as a potential starter next fall. According to former teammate Travis Thomas, a senior who will graduate this June, Nolon was expected to play a much larger role.

"We're all taking it hard; this is not somebody new, he had been in our football family three years now," said Thomas, who, as a graduating senior, did not participate in Wednesday's workout but arrived at the gym shortly after Nolon was rushed away. "He was starting to come into his own. He was getting a feel for the game."

The Bowie boys' and girls' basketball teams postponed their games Thursday night.