Missing K-State Player from Springdale Found Safe in Vehicle

Sam Harvill, a 20-year-old Kansas State football player from Springdale, has been found alive and OK, a Kansas police department said Saturday morning.

Havrill is in good physical condition after being located by law enforcement, the Riley County Police Department said on Twitter.

Later Saturday, police said Harvill was found alone inside his vehicle on the grounds of the U.S. Army’s Fort Riley military base, which is about 20 minutes west of the university.

An officer doing a routine check encountered Harvill in his car and discovered he’d been reported missing. Police haven’t said why Harvill was at the military installation grounds.

Harvill ’s mother reported the Kansas State sophomore defensive tackle missing Thursday at 11:20 a.m., police said. The college football coach issued a statement Friday expressing worry and concern about Harvill’s welfare.

The Riley County Police Department didn’t immediately elaborate Saturday about how Harvill was found or why he’d gone missing. 

On Friday, a friend of Harvill’s, Sunny Cross, told 5NEWS they were high school sweethearts when they went to Shiloh Christian High School in Springdale. 

Cross has not spoken to Harvill since he went missing but based on their past conversations, she thinks he might be under a lot of stress.

5NEWS attempted to contact Harvill’s parents but were unable to speak with them.

A statement from K-State head football coach Bill Snyder said, “We are concerned for Sam’s safety and welfare. We are in contact with his family and area law enforcement authorities and will continue to assist in any way possible.”

Greg Jones, Shiloh Christian School’s Secondary Dean, said Harvill was an outstanding student and leader.

“We think of Samuel not just as a student, not just as an athlete but as a person,” Jones said. “We do have concern for him and concern for his family and we want all of them to know that we are praying for them and we stand ready to take care of their family in any way possible.”

On Harvill’s Facebook page, his hometown is listed as Stark City, Mo.

Below is his player profile from the Kansas State website:

HIGH SCHOOL: Named to the 4A All-State First Team by the Arkansas Activities Association… Selected as a MaxPreps Class of 2011 All-American… Set the Army All-American Combine Bench Press Record… Set the Under Armour All-American Combine Bench Press Record… Selected as a two-time lineman MVP of the state title game… Selected to the AP All-Arkansas Team… Named the Morning News Defensive Player of the Year… Named the Arkansas Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year… Named to PrepStar magazine’s All-West Region team… Led Shiloh Christian to four league titles and three state championships… Recorded 71 tackles with 10 sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior… Had 68 tackles (47 solo, 21 assisted) as a junior… Recorded 8.5 sacks… Forced five fumbles and recovered three… Finished his career with 341 tackles, 95 tackles for loss and an Arkansas state-record 48.5 sacks.

PERSONAL: Samuel Harvill was born March 3, 1992. He is the son of Bill and Kristi Harvill and has two siblings, Brad and Mindy.