Davis James Heller was only 22 years old and had a promising baseball career ahead of him when he suddenly passed away from a cardiac episode on Oct. 5, 2022.
His family described Heller as "fiercely passionate about everything he did," especially baseball.
His father, DJ Heller, told 1819 News his son did not want to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Heller presented a fake vaccination card the first year. But when it was time for a second vaccination, DJ Heller said his son felt guilty despite having a pre-existing condition.
"Davis was very much of a conscientious, good kid. He didn't do anything wrong and didn't like to get in trouble," DJ Heller said.
The university said there were never any official vaccine mandates in any UA sport.
"No student-athletes at The University of Alabama were ever required to be vaccinated against COVID," the university said in response to an 1819 News inquiry. "To state otherwise is false."
However, Heller told his parents that coaches told the team it was selfish not to get vaccinated. Without the shot, players were not allowed to go out to eat on road trips or eat in the dining hall, Heller told his parents. They also had to be tested for COVID twice a week and quarantined for five days after every contact trace, according to Heller.
He told his parents the coaches strongly advised them to get the shot if they planned to play ball. Even though he had a medical exemption from a doctor, Heller did not want to let anyone down.
"So, when he got there in the second year and was told he would not be able to go into a locker room or a training room, he knew he would basically be isolated," DJ Heller said. "Now looking back on it, he reluctantly decided to get it. He was completely distraught about it and towards the end of that year, he didn't get a whole lot of opportunities."