The University of Central Arkansas football community is mourning the loss of former offensive lineman Dylan Desper, a member of the 2019 Southland Conference Championship team, who died earlier this month following a machinery accident.

Desper played a key role on the offensive line during one of the most successful seasons in UCA football history, helping the Bears secure the Southland Conference title. 

Known for his strength and work ethic on the field, Desper was equally respected for the person he was off of it.

Before continuing his collegiate career at UCA, Desper played high school football at Madison Central High School, where he first made a name for himself as a dependable and disciplined lineman. 

He later spent time at Jones College, continuing to develop his skills before transferring to UCA.

While his athletic accomplishments were impressive, those closest to Desper say his character defined him far more than football ever could.

According to his family, Desper was someone who consistently put others before himself. 

“Dylan had a servant’s heart,” his family shared in a statement. “He was always willing to help anyone in need, whether it was a teammate, a friend, or a complete stranger.”

That generosity extended into his everyday life. 

Desper was known for regularly donating blood, a habit his family said reflected his deep desire to help others and make a difference in any way he could. 

“He believed that if he had the ability to help save someone’s life, then it was his responsibility to do so,” his family said.

Friends and former teammates remember Desper as kind, humble, uplifting and someone who brought positivity into every room he entered. 

“He had an energy that made people feel welcome,” one former teammate said. “Dylan was the type of person who checked on you, even when he was dealing with his own struggles.”

Desper’s death has left a lasting impact on the UCA community, especially among those who shared the field and locker room with him. 

His legacy lives on not only through the championship he helped bring to Conway, but through the countless lives he touched through his kindness, selflessness and compassion.

As the Bears community remembers Dylan Desper, he is being honored not just as a football player, but as a son, teammate and friend whose life was defined by generosity and heart.