By Darryl Jacobs, Contributing Writer
On April 11, 2024, LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy died by suicide following a police pursuit. His death shocked the college sports world — not only because of the sudden loss of a talented young athlete but because of what it revealed about the quiet, growing mental health crisis facing Black student-athletes in America.
In the aftermath, questions flooded in: What led to this? Who was supporting him? Could it have been prevented?
But perhaps the most critical question is this: Who’s truly looking out for our young Black athletes, especially now, in an era when Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are being rolled back on college campuses across the country?
A Silent Struggle Behind Spotlight
Kyren Lacy was more than an athlete. Like many Black college football players, he carried the weight of expectations far beyond the gridiron — representing family, community, and often, future financial hope. That kind of pressure can be crushing. Add in legal troubles, public scrutiny, and isolation, and you have a volatile emotional cocktail that too often goes unaddressed. The unique challenges faced by Black student-athletes, such as racial discrimination, societal expectations, and financial pressures, contribute to this crisis.
Lacy’s death isn’t just a tragedy; it’s a stark warning that demands our immediate attention. And it’s not an isolated incident.
Across the country, we’ve seen an increase in mental health challenges among student-athletes, particularly African Americans. These young men and women are praised on game day but often left to navigate personal and cultural difficulties alone once the lights go out. And now, at a time when culturally competent mental health resources are more critical than ever, the very programs designed to support these students are being dismantled.
DEI Under Fire, Lives in the Balance
In Texas, Florida, and several other states, legislation has been passed to defund or eliminate DEI offices and programming from public colleges and universities. These programs, once vital sources of mentorship, advocacy, and community for minority students, are now disappearing, leaving a void that puts vulnerable students at even greater risk.
Let’s be clear: DEI is not a political agenda — it’s a life-saving framework. These programs don’t offer handouts. They offer support — from mental health counselors who understand racial trauma to leadership initiatives that empower student-athletes of color to find their voice in spaces where they are often the minority. Culturally competent mental health resources are crucial in addressing the specific needs of Black student-athletes, as they can provide support that is sensitive to their unique experiences and challenges.
With these resources gone, who fills the gap?
Athletic Departments Must Step Up
Athletic departments, coaching staff, and university leadership are now responsible for providing the cultural, emotional, and psychological support that DEI offices once helped champion.
That means hiring diverse staff who understand their athletes’ lived experiences. It means funding dedicated mental health professionals trained to work with student-athletes from underrepresented backgrounds. It means creating peer—and alumni—based mentorship networks that reflect the communities these athletes come from.
Above all, it means listening. Student-athletes, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, have been speaking out about their pressures. Institutions can no longer afford to ignore their voices or only react when tragedy strikes.
The Role of Advocacy and Accountability
In the absence of institutional DEI, external pressure and advocacy matter more than ever. Alums, faculty, and community organizations must hold colleges accountable. The NCAA must also take a stronger stance in requiring mental health and wellness initiatives that include culturally competent care.
Alternative frameworks can and must be created, but they must be intentional, resourced, and deeply rooted in a fundamental understanding of the challenges facing minority athletes. Token efforts will not save lives; only meaningful investments will.
Kyren’s Legacy Must Spark Change
Kyren Lacy should still be here. He should still prepare for the NFL Draft, inspire kids back home in Louisiana, and proudly wear that LSU jersey. Instead, he has become another name in a growing list of young athletes whose mental health needs went unmet until it was too late.
If we genuinely value our student-athletes, we must do more than celebrate their talent. We must protect their humanity.
This means restoring and reimagining support systems, not tearing them down. It means recognizing that equity isn’t about treating everyone equally— giving people what they need to succeed and survive.
The rollback of DEI initiatives may satisfy a political agenda, but it exposes our most vulnerable students. We cannot allow that to be the legacy of this moment.
We owe Kyren — and every athlete like him — better.
Darryl Jacobs is an ESPN & CBS Sports Network Commentator/Analyst, former college head coach, and sports executive with over two decades of experience in collegiate and professional athletics. He is also a passionate advocate for athlete mental health and leadership development.