Alphonso Smith Jr., a former star football player at Pahokee High School and NFL defensive back, has died at 40, the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to the Denver Post on Thursday morning. The Medical Examiner’s Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office declined to provide additional details about Smith’s death.

Just days later, TMZ reported the former Wake Forest standout and Denver Broncos draft pick died at the age of 40 by suicide, hours after posting a disturbing message. In the Wednesday missive, the former cornerback wrote that he had a "DEMON" in him, referred to himself as a "coward," and referenced abuse he suffered as a child.

Former Denver Broncos cornerback and 2009 2nd-round pick Alphonso Smith Jr. is dead at 40 years old, according to a report from TMZ.