Denver South Football Team Honored Fallen Teammates
The Denver South High School football program has paid tribute to two teammates who died in recent years.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Football
Denver South High School football players have dedicated their current season to honoring two teammates, Trey Palmer and Rayshawn Conner-Coleman. The team has incorporated memorial decals and jersey numbers into their uniforms to commemorate their friends.
Why it matters
The tributes provide a way for the tight-knit football community to process significant grief and maintain the memory of players lost during and shortly after their time with the program.
Head coach Ryan Marini is in his 10th year leading the program, which currently lists jersey number 9 for both Daylen Morrow and the late Trey Palmer.
The players
Ryan Marini
He is in his 10th year serving as the head coach of the Denver South High School football program.
Daylen Morrow
He is a player on the team who wears jersey number 9 as a tribute to his former teammate Trey Palmer.
Trey Palmer
He was a former Denver South High School football player who passed away following a leukemia diagnosis.
Rayshawn Conner-Coleman
He was a recent Denver South High School graduate who died in a drowning incident at Cherry Creek State Park.
Anarye Conner-Coleman
He currently serves as a manager for the Denver South High School football team.
The details
The team added decals featuring the deceased players' numbers to their helmets to signify their presence on the field. This follows the passing of Trey Palmer in spring 2024 due to leukemia and the drowning death of Rayshawn Conner-Coleman at Cherry Creek State Park in summer 2026.
Timeline
Davarie Armstrong was killed in 2020.
Trey Palmer died in the spring of 2024.
Rayshawn Conner-Coleman died in the summer of 2026.
The team plays their homecoming game in October 2026.
Season Trajectory
The program is navigating a difficult period as these memorials reflect a pattern of loss that follows the 2020 death of Davarie Armstrong. These commemorations significantly shape the team identity heading into their 2026 homecoming and the remainder of the season.
Daylen Morrow will continue to wear jersey number 9 throughout the season as a tribute. The team will officially display these memorial decals on their helmets during their upcoming homecoming game.
The takeaway
The team's decision to integrate these tributes into their uniforms serves as a tangible way for student-athletes to honor the legacy of their peers. It demonstrates how sports programs function as essential support systems for young people navigating personal loss.
Further reading
Find more coverage on local teams at the Denver Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH).
