Portland State LB dies from complications following tonsillectomy

Portland State linebacker AJ Schlatter died Sunday at home due to a complication from having his tonsils removed Friday.

Schlatter’s father Jim wrote on Facebook that he believed his 20-year-old son developed a blood clot following what was supposed to be a routine procedure.

“My heart is with the Schlatter family. They are our focus right now,” Portland State coach Bruce Barnum said in a statement. “We lost a diamond that will never be replaced. He was the definition of what we are about at PSU.”

Schlatter, a redshirt freshman, started his career as a walk-on but earned a scholarship and a starting role for the 2015 season. He was an important part of a defense that helped lead the Vikings to a 9-3 record and a berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He finished the season as the team’s fourth-leading tackler with 62 tackles, 6.5 for loss.

Schlatter, a native of Canby, Oregon, was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week following the Vikings’ 34-31 win at Eastern Washington on Nov. 21.

The Schlatter family had been a mainstay around Portland State athletics. Schlatter’s mother, Terri Jo, played on the national championship volleyball team in 1984 and was an assistant coach into the 1990s. She’s in the Portland State Hall of Fame. His father was an assistant football coach in the 1980s and his sister Garyn was a star volleyball player for the Vikings.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Schlatter family with all the compassion and sympathy we can bring to bear during this difficult time,” athletic director Mark Rountree said. “Things like this aren’t supposed to happen. We cherish every student’s well-being, and the loss of AJ will be tough on our family. He represented his family and Portland State with passion, courage and humility that made us all proud. He will be missed.”

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