Alphonso Smith Jr. Passes Away

     One-time Palm Beach County high school football player and Pahokee native Alphonso Smith Jr. passed away at the age of 40 in Florida on Wednesday. According to police reports, he committed suicide. 

     Smith played high school football with the Pahokee Blue Devils as a quarterback and cornerback. He led the team to a FHSAA Class 2B state championship in 2003. Smith attended Wake Forest University and participate in college football from 2004 until 2008. 

     He was taken 37th overall in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos as a defensive back. Smith played his rookie season with Denver in 2009 and then was with the Detroit Lions for three seasons from 2010 to 2012.