A graduate of Ed White High School who went on to play defensive back at Marshall University and two NFL teams died early Sunday, several hours after crashing his motorcycle in Clay County.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 27-year-old Johnathan Bruce Goddard lost control of his 2007 Honda motorcycle at a high rate of speed while eastbound on state Road 16 not far from Camp Blanding.

Goddard was airlifted to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after 3 a.m.

Troopers said Goddard was wearing a helmet and alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Goddard was a football standout at White and went on to become an All-American as defensive end at Marshall University. His senior year at Marshall, he led the nation in sacks with 16 and had 28.5 tackles for losses.

He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2005 and later played one season for the Indianapolis Colts.

"This is a terrible loss for our football family and our thoughts and prayers are with the Goddard family," Marshall coach Mark Snyder said on Sunday.

Goddard, who lived in Starke, is survived four children.