Mobile and Northwest Florida Sports Communities Mourn 20-Year-Old Student-Athlete

MOBILE, Alabama — The Northwest Florida and Southwest Alabama athletic communities are deeply grieving the passing of 20-year-old Benjamin "Ben" Walker Conken, who died on Monday, August 17, 2026, surrounded by his family following a courageous battle with cancer. A standout multi-sport athlete at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile, Conken had earned a college football scholarship to play for the University of West Florida (UWF) Argonauts.

A Remarkable Legacy at Cottage Hill and Dedication to UWF Football

Conken built a distinguished high school athletic career as a standout outside linebacker and wide receiver at Cottage Hill Christian Academy, earning All-Coastal High School honors and being named "Most Athletic" by his senior class. After signing with UWF in February 2024, he was diagnosed with cancer shortly thereafter. Despite undergoing rigorous medical treatments between Houston and Mobile, Conken remained an active, inspiring presence around the Argonauts program. Head Coach Kaleb Nobles praised Conken’s unwavering positivity, noting his lasting impact on teammates and coaches alike.

Tributes and Memorial Services Scheduled in Mobile

To honor his legacy, the University of West Florida Argonauts will hold a moment of silence at their home opener on August 27 and wear "BC" helmet decals throughout the upcoming season. Family members and school leaders remembered Ben as a man of deep faith, outdoor discipline, and quiet integrity who lived by the mantra "get up and do something". Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, featuring a public visitation prior to the morning service.