( CNN ) -- A University of Hawaii football player died after a large wave swept over him on an Oahu beach early Saturday . CNN affiliate KGMB-TV reported that the Honolulu Fire Department recovered the body of Willis Wilson , 21 , about 7:30 a.m. , three hours after he vanished from the beach . Wilson and two other people were in knee-deep water when the wave hit them , fire officials told KGMB . The other two people , and two more on the beach , could not locate Wilson . After an air , land and sea search , authorities found Wilson 's body . Wilson , a running back , graduated from high school in Lakewood , Washington , and spent three seasons at the University of Washington . He then transferred to Hawaii , where he had not appeared in a game this season . `` We are very saddened by the news of Willis ' passing , '' Hawaii football coach Norm Chow said in a statement . `` He was a very fun-loving young man who was well liked by his teammates . '' Wilson 's father , Jack Wilson Jr. , played for Hawaii in the late 1980s , the university said . Good Samaritan drowns trying to save California teen , man swept into ocean . CNN Sports ' Joseph S. Miller contributed to this report .
Willis Wilson , 28 , was in knee - deep water when wave hit . He previously spent three seasons at the University of Washington . Source : ` ` He was a very fun - loving young man '' Wilson 's father also played football for Washington .