Alphonso Smith Jr., former NFL cornerback and 37th overall pick in the 2009 draft, has died. He was 40 years old. Via TMZ, Smith committed suicide in a Florida housing community on Wednesday. Before his death, Smith posted a troubling message on Facebook that made his struggles clear. Drafted by Denver, Smith was traded to the Lions in 2010. He played until 2012, appearing in 42 regular season games with 11 starts. Smith spent four years at Wake Forest. He was a consensus All-American in 2008. He was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. We extend our deepest condolences to Smith’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.
