Seattle ? Washington safety Curtis Williams always smiled, even confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed from the neck down.

His death Monday two days after his 24th birthday and more than a week since he visited his former teammates at the Huskies’ annual spring game came as a shock to those around the football program.

He had looked so good sitting high above the Husky Stadium turf for the spring game.

“Fantastic kid,” offensive line coach Brent Myers said. “It’s a tragedy. He’s got a great smile. That’s who he is. He was always upbeat. He called the team every Thursday night before a game.”

Williams, paralyzed in a game at Stanford in October 2000, was at his brother’s home in Fresno, Calif., when he died in his sleep early Monday of complications associated with his paralysis, Washington athletic department spokesman Jim Daves said.

“His smile captivated everybody,” kicker John Anderson said after a team meeting in which players shared stories about Williams. “He was just a special, special guy on and off the field.”

Williams was hurt in a helmet-to-helmet hit while attempting to tackle Cardinal running back Kerry Carter. He had spinal-cord surgery and was left with no voluntary muscle movement.

“I will always admire Curtis for his tremendous courage and for inspiring all of us to learn to persevere in tough times,” coach Rick Neuheisel said.