OJ Murdock Dies of Apparent Suicide

Photo from OJ Murdock's Facebook Page

After sending an odd text to his former coach at 3:30 am, OJ Murdock was found inside his car by Tampa police with what they described as self inflicted gunshot wounds.  Murdock's car was found outside of his former high school, Middleton High School, in which his dreams of becoming an NFL star all began.

Murdock sent the following text to his former coach, Al McCray, who was his coach in high school and who also helped him get his career back on track at Fort Hays State:

"Coach I want to thank you for everything you've done for me and my family.  It's greatly appreciated. I apologize"

But Murdock did not state in the text what he apologized for.  Murdock has had a rollercoaster ride in his football career.  He originally went to college at South Carolina to play football, he was redshirted his freshman year, only playing one game, and was then dismissed from the team after being arrested for shoplifting in a Florida store in 2006.  Murdock spent two years at home before eventually enrolling in a small college and then transferring to Fort Hays State with his former high school coach McCray.  After having an outstanding senior year with Fort Hays State, Murdock was signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2011 as an unrestricted free agent.  Murdock then spent last season on injured reserved and was looking to return to the field with the Titans this year.

"It's hard, it really is because he was such a good kid.  He was lazy in the classroom in high school, and of course he messed up at South Carolina, but you're talking about a kid who was on his mom's couch for two years.  He got the grades he needed and he came up here [Fort Hays State] and he had one dream, one goal: 'I'm going to come out here and I'm going to play at a high level and I'll get to the National Football League.' And the kid did it. He did it." -Al McCray, Assistant Head Coach/Receiver

My condolences go out to the Murdock family.  You never know what someone is going through to push them over the edge.  This is a sad end to someone who all he wanted to do is make sure his mother and family was taken care of.  My hear is with them all.