Former National Champion quarterback and Grand Valley State legend Cullen Finnerty was found dead Tuesday night in the woods of northern Michigan, according to multiple sources.
The 30-year-old native of Brighton, Michigan went missing over the Memorial Day weekend but wasn't found until late Tuesday night. While the cause of death is still unknown, Lake County Undersheriff Dennis Robinson told FOX News that foul play is not suspected and a full autopsy will be needed to determine how Finnerty died.
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A search that included many from the sheriff's office, state police, local fire departments and dozens of former Grand Valley State players took place Tuesday across the area of Webber Township where Finnerty's body was found.
Sheriff Robert Hilts was also on the scene and in addition to trying to locate Finnerty on foot, officers were tracking the former Division II star through his cell phone until it went dead.
Although the search was full in manpower and lasted a substantial amount of time, Sheriff Hilts noted how dangerous the terrain in the Michigan woods is for all who attempt to navigate their way through.
"This is the last river that I'd pick to fish," Hilts told The Washington Times. "And it's a very tough river to navigate." Finnerty's body was not found in the water but in a wooded area near his family cottage.
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While the reason behind Finnerty's death is still being answered, Sheriff Hilts said the quarterback last spoke to a family member Tuesday night who noted that Finnerty "was nervous about something," according to The Detroit News. "The family suspected he might be having some kind of a mental episode, that he was either afraid or something and ran off into the woods," Sheriff Hilts continued to say.
Earning over 50 wins and 3 National Championships in his four years as a starter at Grand Valley State, Finnerty is considered by many to be one of the finest Division II quarterbacks in the history of college football.
Former Grand Valley State head coach Brian Kelly - now the head man at the University of Notre Dame - touched on the situation since he was Cullen Finnerty's coach during his freshman season.
"It's very chilling," Kelly said to ESPN before Finnerty's body was discovered. "He led me to a national championship as a true freshman. When I left, coach Martin took over and won two more national championships. My heart goes out to the family and to his beautiful wife."
Former coach Chuck Martin - now an assistant at Notre Dame with Brian Kelly - was one of the many on the search teams aiding in the location of the former GVS star.
Following his stellar collegiate career Finnerty had brief stops in the NFL, originally signing with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He'd sign with the Denver Broncos in 2008 but was placed on waivers shortly after.
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