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Washington State QB Tyler Hilinksi found dead in apparent suicide

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski was discovered dead Tuesday with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Hilinski, 21, was found with a suicide note laying next to him, the Pullman Police Department stated in a news release:

On Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at about 4:30 p.m., Pullman officers responded to apartments located at 1620 NE Northwood Dr., Aspen Village Apartments, to check on the welfare of a Washington State University (WSU) football player who did not show up for practice earlier in the day. Officers arrived and found Tyler Hilinski, 21 years old, deceased in the apartment with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A rifle was recovered next to Hilinski and a suicide note was found. Hilinski is listed as a redshirt sophomore quarterback on the WSU football team. Pullman Police detectives and the Whitman County Coroner's Office are conducting a thorough investigation to confirm the suspected cause and manner of death.

Hilinski was roughly three weeks removed from starting in the Holiday Bowl versus Michigan State, where he threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort.

His shining moment with the Cougars came Sept. 9, when he relieved an injured Luke Falk and led Washington State to a 21-point comeback and a triple-overtime victory over Boise State.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Hilinski was in line to take over as the full-time starter in 2018, as Falk has graduated from the program. In two seasons at Washington State, Hilinksi threw for 1,421 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Cougars head coach Mike Leach released a statement on behalf of the team, expressing his grief and offering prayers to Hilinski's family.

Hilinski's younger brother, Ryan, asked folks to pray for his family in wake of the tragic news.

Hilinski was born in Claremont, Calif., and went to high school in state in Upland.

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