COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- A family history of heart problems may provide a clue into the sudden death of Texas A&M defensive lineman Brandon Fails, Aggies coach R.C. Slocum said.

Fails died Monday morning after complaining to his roommate of breathing problems. Fails had no history of heart problems, but his father survived a heart attack at age 32 and his grandfather also had heart problems, Slocum said.

"The doctors are speculating that it was a heart condition,'' Slocum said in Tuesday's editions of the Austin American-Statesman. "He had a very faint pulse rate at the dorm.''

An autopsy has been scheduled.

Like all freshman players at A&M, Fails was given a complete physical before reporting for football practices Aug. 5. But echocardiograms, which produce an ultrasound picture of the heart, usually are not included, and a source familiar with the case said Fails was not given one.

Those who knew Fails said he will be remembered as friendly freshman with a frequent grin and a bright future at Texas A&M.

"He was a young, talented young man who I thought had a chance to be an outstanding lineman for us,'' said defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt. "He was a bubbly kid. I don't think he ever ran into anyone who wouldn't remember his smile.

"He'd only been here two months, and over at Cain Hall everyone knew him. You could see the grief on everybody's face to find out that he had passed away,'' Wyatt said.

Fails died at St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan after collapsing in his Cain Hall dorm room.

Fails played in four games this season before undergoing knee surgery Oct. 22. He would have been a starting prospect for next season.

Fails' roommate, freshman tight end Patrick Fleming, told Slocum that Fails collapsed as the two players prepared to leave for breakfast in the dorm cafeteria.

"He was fine. He was at practice yesterday afternoon. He did not practice. He was recuperating from knee surgery early in the year,'' Slocum said.

Fleming told Slocum he and Fails had been to dinner with a friend Sunday evening without any problems.

Slocum informed the player's parents, Charles and Valerie Fails of Euless, of their son's death.

"Any time you get in a situation like this it dramatically points out what is really important,'' Slocum said. "You are sitting in a room with a mother and father and telling them their son is dead. Everything else pales by comparison.''

Slocum called off Monday's practice but planned to return to workouts Tuesday to continue preparations for Friday's game against Texas.

It is the second time in four years that the Texas-Texas A&M game has been marked by tragedy. On Nov. 18, 1999, a 59-foot tower of logs being prepared for the traditional A&M bonfire collapsed and killed 12 people and injured 27.

After hearing of Fails' death, Texas officials canceled Monday night's hex rally, an annual pregame ritual before the game against the archrival Aggies.

"Our hearts go out to the family and to the Texas A&M staff and players,'' said Texas coach Mack Brown. "We understand their pain.''

One of Brown's players, Cole Pittman, died in a February 2001 car crash.

Fails attended Colleyville Heritage High School in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District last year. Fleming and Fails were high school teammates before coming to A&M.

The 6-foot-1, 307-pound Fails was voted Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year by Associated Press Sports Editors last season. He was a first-team All-State selection by the APSE and the Texas Sports Writers Association.

In his senior season, Fails registered 36 tackles and five sacks and forced three fumbles. In limited playing time this season, Fails was in on two tackles against Louisiana Tech.

Fails was the third player to die during Slocum's 14 seasons as the Aggies' coach.

Aggie defensive lineman Terry Nichols was killed in a car accident in 2000. Walk-on kicker James Glenn of League City collapsed and died before a practice in 1991. An autopsy revealed he had an enlarged heart.