Crash kills Nebraska punter, former Michigan State punter

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler died in a car crash in Wisconsin after working at a kicking clinic, a sheriff's department official said Sunday. Louisiana State kicker Colby Delahoussaye was injured in the crash.

Waukesha County Sheriff's Lt. Thom Moerman said speed was likely a factor in the single-vehicle crash that happened around 11:45 p.m. Saturday.

The 24-year-old Sadler, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was driving. He and 22-year-old Foltz, of Greeley, Neb., both died at the scene. Delahoussaye, 21 of New Iberia, La., also was a passenger. He was treated at Waukesha Memorial Hospital and released. A statement from LSU said his injuries were minor and that he was scheduled to return home Monday.

Moerman said in a statement that Sadler lost control on the wet pavement, left the roadway and struck a tree.

The University of Nebraska said Sunday the team will skip this week's planned Big Ten media days in Chicago because of Foltz's death.

Foltz was a three-year starter for the Nebraska team and last year he was named the Big Ten's Punter of the Year. Foltz graduated from Nebraska with a degree in agronomy in May. He led the Big Ten in punting last year at 44.2 yards per kick and ranked fifth in school history (42.6).

Nebraska coach Mike Riley said Foltz was respected on the team, and had a positive influence on everyone with whom he interacted.

Several hundred friends and teammates of Foltz gathered outside Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Sunday to remember him. Several players talked about how hard Foltz worked and his faith in God.

"Sam was a kind and thoughtful young man who was a leader on the playing field, in the classroom, and in his community," Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie D. Green said in a statement. "He was an exemplary student-athlete who grew as a player and as a person on his path to recent completion of his degree in agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln."

Sadler was a four-year starter and four-time academic All-America at Michigan State. He finished his college playing career after the 2014 season. He drew something of a cult following during his playing days because of his sense of humor and wit.

"I just asked my waitress what sport she thought I played. Her answer? Disk golf. Time to re-evaluate my life," Sadler once tweeted.

He helped get his own mock Heisman Trophy candidacy rolling one season by pushing the hashtag #sadler4heisman. He also would regularly exchange funny lines on Twitter with the @FauxPelini account, a popular parody of the former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini.