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"Our family lost a piece of our heart that will forever be missed," wrote campaign organizers.
"AJ was an amazing son, brother, uncle, teammate, friend, and inspiration to many. He was a star on and off the field with an immense impact on the youth and community."
Loved ones said he was "at the pinnacle of his football career" and had hopes of playing professionally.
Simon was a defensive lineman for the University at Albany Great Danes, notching 50 tackles including 12 sacks in the 2023 season, according to his ESPN stats page.
"AJ’s love for the game was known to all those who knew him," loved ones wrote. "We are so proud of the man he was and still is. We will continue to cheer him on forever through cherished memories."
The GoFundMe effort, launched to assist with memorial costs, has raised more than $24,000 in under 24 hours.
Click here to view the fundraiser on GoFundMe.com.
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