Titans receiver O.J. Murdock dies, suicide suspected

The dynamic young receiver, a former state track champion in high school, is found with what appears to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Hours after sending a gracious yet puzzling middle-of-the-night text message to a former college coach, Tennessee Titans receiver O.J. Murdock died in an apparent suicide, Tampa, Fla., police said.

Police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said officers found Murdock about 8:30 a.m. Monday inside his car with what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The car was parked in front of Middleton High School, where Murdock made a name for himself as a dynamic receiver and state champion sprinter in track and field.

Al McCray , assistant head coach/receivers at Fort Hays State, said that when he woke up at his Kansas home Monday he found a message on his cellphone from the player, thanking him for everything he had done for Murdock and his family. The athlete concluded the text with an apology that baffled McCray, who said he had known the 25-year-old since Murdock was in middle school.

Murdock, who signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and spent all of last season on injured reserve, was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he died.

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