OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- The Osceola County Health Department is investigating the death of an 18-year-old football player at a local high school. The student died early Monday morning and his death has now been confirmed as resulting from Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

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MRSA INFO: MRSA Facts, Info Prevention From CDC

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The school district sent letters home and the health department is asking parents and students to stay calm. The health department has launched an investigation to figure out how Smith contracted the infection and said there is no reason to panic, because they don't even know where the linebacker caught the infection.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Greg Favors was with his nephew, Alonzo Smith, when he took his last breath on Monday.

"You know we are all still in a little bit of disbelief, thinking he's going to walk out the door or come down the steps," Favors said.

The popular Liberty High School linebacker was working out last Thursday and the next day the 18-year-old complained about back pain. No one knew what was wrong.

The Osceola County Health Department's test results released Wednesday show Smith died of MRSA, which is a staph infection caused by bacteria commonly carried on the skin and nose.

"He always kept a smile on his face and he was a smart, intelligent kid," Favors said.

The health department said the football player could've caught the infection anywhere, so parents and students at Liberty High shouldn't stress out about it. For Smith's family, that proved to be difficult.

"We are a close knit family. We love Alonzo, but God loves Alonzo as well," he said.

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor, such as pimples and boils and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. It can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.

MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin and oxacillin.

Factors that have been associated with the spread of staph infections, including MRSA skin infections, include: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.