Former Penn State DB A.J. Lytton Dies at 24

Originally posted on Nittany Sports Now | By Joe Smeltzer | Last updated Jul 6, 2024 3:11 PM ET

Former Penn State defensive back A.J. Lytton has died in a car accident at the age of 24.

Lytton’s high school alma mater, Dr. Henry A. Wise in Upper Marlboro, Maryland sent a post to social media late Saturday morning announcing his death, along with two of his classmates, Khyree Jackson and Isaiah Hazel.

The Dr. Henry A. Wise Athletic Department sends condolences to the families and mourns the loss of Khyree Jackson (State Champ 2016 c/o '17) Anthony Lytton, Jr. (AJ) (State Champ 2015,16,17 c/o '18) and Isaiah Hazel (State Champ 2015, 16, 17 c/o '19). #OnceAPumaAlwaysAPuma pic.twitter.com/8SsQEgbR0G

— Wise Athletics (@WisePumaSports) July 6, 2024

“The Dr. Henry A. Wise Athletic Department sends condolences to the families and mourns the loss of Khyree Jackson (State Champ 2016 c/o ’17) Anthony Lytton, Jr. (AJ) (State Champ 2015,16,17 c/o ’18) and Isaiah Hazel (State Champ 2015, 16, 17 c/o ’19). #OnceAPumaAlwaysAPuma.”

Lytton played at Penn State during the 2021 season. A four-star recruit who started at Dr. Henry H. Wise, he started his career at Florida State, where he appeared in 12 games during 2019, starting one. In his lone season at PSU, Lytton appeared in 11 games, mostly as a gunner on special teams. He re-entered the transfer portal in January 2022.

Jackson played at Oregon, and this past spring, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings. Jackson’s mother confirmed the news to TMZ, and Oregon coach Dan Lanning sent a post paying tribute.

“RIP Khyree…,” he wrote. “Love you at a loss for words. I will miss your smile. Great player better person.”

RIP Khyree… Love you @Real_Khyree at a loss for words. I will miss your smile. Great player better person.

— Dan Lanning (@CoachDanLanning) July 6, 2024

Hazel played at Maryland for four seasons, starting at receiver before transitioning to defensive back. He played at the University of Charlotte this past season, starting eight games and playing in all 12.

Per Maryland State Police, Hazel was driving the Dodge Charger that crashed, with Lytton and Jackson being passengers. According to Maryland investigators, another driver was trying to change lanes at a “high rate of speed” before hitting Hazel’s vehicle, then hitting another car.

This article first appeared on Nittany Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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