Former MSU football captain Brian Ottney died from a "seizure-like episode" early Monday in Long Beach, Calif., said Lt. Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Ottney had the episode at a Long Beach residence and was taken to the Long Beach Community Hospital after a 911 call was made.

The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at 12:59 a.m. Monday. It is unknown if Ottney has a medical history of seizures.

Sgt. Paul LaBaron of the Long Beach Police Department said on Monday evening foul play was not suspected.

Ottney worked a construction job in the oceanside city where he lived with his fiancee, former MSU softball player Lacy Hauxhurst. He came to MSU from Troy and started 33 straight games for the Spartans at center between the 2000 and 2002 seasons.

"Brian loved the game of football," head coach John L. Smith said. "It's a crushing blow to lose a member of the Spartan family. Our sympathies go out to his family and his fiancee's family. He was a true Spartan."

Ottney had one year of eligibility left when he graduated with a bachelor's degree in building construction management in May. He left MSU after suffering multiple knee injuries, retiring from football on May 16.

Ottney contacted MSU Sports Information last week because he wanted to make sure he could get a photo of his brother Mark, a starting guard for Western Michigan, playing in Spartan Stadium this past weekend.

The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder was described as a friendly giant who had a sensitive side off the football field by his Troy High School football coach Gary Griffith. He said Ottney didn't have any medical problems in high school, other than two shoulder operations.

"There was a soft side people didn't see in him because he didn't show it on the football field," Griffith said. "He was too good and too young to go. It's a tragedy to lose him.

"He was one of the best football players I've ever coached. He was hard-working and he loved football. We're devastated. He was one of those guys that never missed school."

After leading his high school team to the Class AA regional finals in 1998, Ottney was redshirted as he sat out the 1999 season at MSU with a shoulder injury.

Ottney started the last nine games of the 2000 season, his first wearing the Spartan uniform. He was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-American second team after recording 74 pancakes and blocking for then-running back T.J. Duckett, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards that season.

After the 2002 season, Ottney became only the second player in Spartan history to win the Up Front award multiple times when he took the honors in 2001 and 2002. The award is annually presented to the team's most outstanding offensive lineman.

"Brian Ottney was the best center I ever coached, period," said Jeff Stoutland, MSU's offensive line coach. "I loved the way he approached the game.

"Brian is the epitome of what a coach looks for in an offensive lineman. When the game clock was running, that's when Brian was at his best. He lived to play the game."

Senior linebacker Mike Labinjo, who entered MSU in 1999 with Ottney, said he was shocked to hear of his former teammate's death.

"It hurts anytime you lose a member of your family," Labinjo said. "It took me a second to come to terms with what happened. At first when I heard, I thought it was a cruel joke."

Construction Management Program Professor Tim Mrozowski first met Ottney three years ago and describes him as a hard-working student.

"Brian was very dedicated and very personable as a student," Mrozowski said. "He was a front-row student. He interacted in class a lot, asked lots of questions."

Mrozowski not only helped Ottney in the classroom but on the golf course as well. Ottney picked up golf two years ago, according to his former professor, and within one season became very good.

"He was very coachable," Mrozowski said. "He took some lessons and worked hard and became an excellent player."

Mrozowski said Ottney was excited about starting his new life with his fiancee and his new construction job at California-based Centex Homes, but it was hard for him to leave MSU and football.

"He was the type of person you respect," Mrozowski said. "It was a tough decision for him to not play football, and it was painful for him to leave."

Senior Mark Goebel, who lined up as fullback last year behind Ottney, also was shocked to hear of his former teammate's death.

"It makes you realize life comes and goes, and football is so little," Goebel said. "He was a big part of this team and will be missed by everyone."

Jon Malavolti can be reached at malavol2@msu.edu.