Former UM football player dies of cancer

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Former University of Miami cornerback Leonard Myers has died after battling cancer. He was 38 years old.

Myers played for the Hurricanes from 1997 to 2000, starting for two and a half seasons at Miami.

"The family lost another one way too soon," the team said Friday on its official Twitter page. "Rest easy, Leonard Myers."

Sinorice Moss, a former Hurricanes wide receiver, expressed shock at Myers passing in a tweet sent Friday morning.

"Everyone is fighting a battle you know knowing about," Moss posted. "Take wings & soar, Leonard Myers #22."

Another UM alum, cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke, also tweeted out his feelings by simply posting "RIP."

He started for the first four games of his senior year before suffering a foot injury.

Myers was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft and went on to have brief stints with the New Orleans Saints, New  York Jets and Detroit Lions.

He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2001.

In 2015, Myers coached wide receivers at New Mexico Highlands University, and in January, he served as the cornerbacks coach for the Nationals team at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, according to Patriots.com.

Myers, who was from Fort Lauderdale, went to Dillard High School, where he registered 85 tackles, six interceptions and five fumble recoveries during his senior season.