Johnathan Goddard, a defensive lineman who did a short stint with the Colorado Crush this year, has died in a motorcycle crash in Florida.
Goddard, 27, was speeding on Florida State Road 16 when the accident occurred around 7:45 p.m. Saturday, said Ron Cooper, duty officer supervisor with the Florida Highway Patrol. “He just ran off the road, apparently.”
Goddard was taken to a hospital and declared dead at 6:35 a.m. today.
The Arena Football League’s Crush signed Goddard as a free agent in May this year, and he played two games for the team before being released early this month.
Goddard, who played for Marshall University’s Thundering Herd football program in 2004, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2005 and also was on the roster of the Indianapolis Colts, according to , a website dedicated to Marshall’s sports teams.
Goddard spent 2005 with the Lions, then 2006-07 with the Indianapolis Colts.
His senior year at Marshall he led the nation in sacks with 16 and had 28.5 tackles for losses, according to . Goddard was also a Football Writers Association first-team All-American selection.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
