Former NFL Player Found Dead At 40, Said He Had A “Demon” Inside Him Hours Before Death

Alphonso Smith Jr. — a former NFL player and standout cornerback at Wake Forest University — has died … TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Sports … the former cornerback died by suicide on Wednesday at a housing community in Florida.

Alphonso’s final Facebook post highlighted his unstable emotional state before his death.

In the post, Alphonso wrote, “Do not cry for me! I tried everything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME! I did not want to be that WAY! I know I have disappointed so many folks. This is a DEMON in me! But not only me! It’s EVERYONE! I have HURT so many! I needed help & did not get it!”

He repeatedly apologizes in the post, calls himself a “coward” … and includes a reference to some abuse suffered at the hands of an older woman when he was a young boy.

Alphonso ended the post by writing, “I am SORRY! THIS IS IT!”

Click to expand...

Smith, a Pahokee, Fla., native, was a standout at his local high school before embarking on an accolade-filled career at Wake Forest that saw him get two All-ACC First Team nods and an All-American Second Team pick before it all culminated in a consensus All-American season in 2008.

In 2007 and 2008, he led Division I college football with eight and seven interceptions, respectively. In ’07, he also ran back three interceptions for touchdowns, which also led DI.

His 21 career interceptions still rank as the most in program history.

Smith, following his illustrious career with Wake Forest, was taken in the second round (37th overall) of the 2009 draft by the Broncos, spending one season in Denver.

At the outset of the 2010 season, Smith was traded to the Lions and recorded a career-high five interceptions. He added three more the next season, but played just four contests in 2012 before being waived that November.

He was not picked up by another NFL squad.

Click to expand...