ASHEVILLE, N.C. — On the football field, Chad Wiley played a position that's all about personal sacrifice.

Even when he wasn't blocking defenders as an offensive lineman at North Carolina A&T, those who knew Wiley best said selflessness came naturally to him.

Wiley died early this morning, less than 24 hours after he collapsed following a supervised voluntary workout at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. A two-year starter at tackle and rising fifth-year senior for the Aggies, Wiley was 22.

"He was always thinking of others," recalled Kenny Ford, Wiley's coach at Owen High School. "He had this little Toyota. He went around and picked up other players before practice, and he'd take 'em home afterward. ... We'd practice a long time, and I know it took him a long time to take them home."

A&T spokesman Brian Holloway said Wiley began complaining of dizziness after the workout ended around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday but didn't lose consciousness until he was in the training room.

He was transported to Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, and he died around 5 a.m. today. Holloway said the initial diagnosis is that Wiley died of heat-related illness.

According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature in the Greensboro area was 86 degrees on Tuesday. At 9:54 a.m., the temperature was 73 degrees.

The Annual Survey of Football Injury Research, which was released in February, states that 33 football players — 25 high school, five college and two professional — have died from heat stroke since 1995.

Ford said an autopsy will be performed to pinpoint the cause of Wiley's death, so funeral arrangements are pending.

"I feel empty; so empty," said Ford. "We had an athletic picnic planned for (Wednesday), but we postponed it. Part of that was because of the weather, but we've trudged through that before. There are just too many feelings right now."

Wiley's mother, Melody Wells, issued a statement through Ford: "I want all young people, every one of them, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to follow their dream and not let go of it."

Marcus Myers was one of the high school teammates Wiley used to take to and from practice. He and several other former Warhorses drove to Greensboro after hearing of Wiley's collapse, and they were with him until shortly before he died.

"He was like a big brother; he took care of everybody," Myers said. "He picked up so many of us and took us to practice. Even if he had to take some of us to practice and go back to get the others, he'd do that as well."