Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. dies at 40

Alphonso Smith, a former Wake Forest cornerback who played four seasons in the NFL, died by suicide on Wednesday at the age of 40, according to reports. Hours before his death, he posted a message on social media in which he described himself as a “coward” and referenced childhood abuse.

Smith, a native of Pahokee, Florida, was a two-time All-ACC First Team selection and earned All-American honors, including a consensus All-American season in 2008. He led Division I football with eight interceptions in 2007 and seven in 2008, and his 21 career interceptions remain the most in Wake Forest history.

The Denver Broncos selected Smith in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft (37th overall). After one season in Denver, he was traded to the Detroit Lions at the start of the 2010 season, where he recorded a career-high five interceptions that year and added three more the following season. He appeared in only four games in 2012 before being released in November and did not sign with another NFL team.

Authorities encourage anyone affected by the issues raised in this story to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or the Crisis Text Line by texting 741741.