SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah will honor the late Ty Jordan this upcoming spring by wearing a patch on their respective sports uniforms, Athletic Director Mark Harlan said during a speech at the Celebration of Life for Ty Jordan this morning.

“Furthermore, on behalf of 35,000 students at the University of Utah, it’s my honor, and my pleasure on behalf of our president. And you’ve heard about his academic success. When I’m done here, I’m going to hand you a certificate of the incredible achievement he had academically at the University of Utah,” Harlan said.

“He was remarkable. Many of our student-athletes are suffering right now. I got to know Ty as well, but when I talked to our other students and our other teams, I learned quickly he was the mayor of the residence hall. So that’s why as you see our teams compete this spring you will see a patch honoring Ty. Our basketball programs, soccer programs, and lacrosse programs, because he knew everybody as you know,  he was social. We’re so sorry for your loss, but it’s my honor to present this to you.”

Utah AD Mark Harlan is now speaking at Ty Jordan's Celebration of Life.

"He was remarkable. Our student-athletes are suffering right now. I learned quickly that he was the mayor of the residence hall." #GoUtes #LLTJ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 6, 2021

Jordan passed away on Christmas night in Denton, Texas near his hometown to an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Mesquite, Texas native ran for 597 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first season with the Utes. Jordan was named Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, earned Associated Press Newcomer of the Year, and was named a Freshman All-American by 247Sports.

Utah Athletics started the Ty Jordan Memorial Scholarship on Tuesday morning. The first gift to the scholarship fund will be made by head coach Kyle Whittingham and his wife Jamie, donating $100,000.