Former college football player dies in house fire at grandfather's Georgia home

A former Division I football player died Monday in a house fire at his grandfather's home in Stone Mountain, a suburb northeast of Atlanta. The blaze broke out just after 1 p.m. at a residence on Rock Cliff Court, and firefighters arriving at the scene found the home engulfed in flames as neighbors reported that someone might be inside.

During an interior search, responders found the body of 21-year-old Izaiah Taylor. The homeowner, Gregory Edwards, identified his grandson’s remains, authorities said. Edwards told Fox 5 Atlanta that a neighbor alerted him to smoke coming from the house and that he rushed home from work. "I got a call from my neighbor. Said there was smoke coming out of the home, and I immediately left work and headed to the house," he said. He added, "What can I say? I mean, that's not an easy pill to swallow. You know, you don't bury your grandchildren."

Taylor was a redshirt freshman who played on the offensive line at Georgia Military College. He had transferred to the junior college program after redshirting for Liberty University in 2024. Georgia Military College issued a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 16, expressing condolences to Taylor’s family and noting that the college’s community was grappling with the loss. "Georgia Military College is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students, Izaiah Taylor," the college said. "Our hearts are with Izaiah's family, friends, classmates, and all those who knew and loved him."

Authorities said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, and local reports indicate investigators are examining the scene. Stone Mountain, located about 25 miles from downtown Atlanta, is the site of the residence, where Taylor had returned home for the holidays when the fire occurred.