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Former Notre Dame star Louis Nix III dead after being reported missing

Former Notre Dame star Louis Nix III has died after being reported missing by his family. He was 29.

Nix, who was a standout defensive lineman for the Irish before playing three seasons in the NFL, was reported missing by his mother on Friday. The missing persons report said that Nix left his father’s house in Jacksonville on Tuesday morning and had not been seen since.

Nix’s mother told Ben Becker of WJAX-TV that the people he speaks to daily had not heard from him. A day later, she told him that her son had died. The news was confirmed by Notre Dame on Sunday.

Details on how Nix died and where he was found remain unclear, but the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reported it found him Saturday evening.

The last communication anybody received from Nix was on Tuesday, she said. Nix’s mother also told Becker that she believed Nix is in danger.

Nix played at Notre Dame from 2010 to 2013 and established himself as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the country while helping the Irish reach the national title game in 2012. Over that span, Nix totaled 122 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Houston Texans.

Nix spent time with the Texans, New York Giants, Washington Football Team and Jacksonville Jaguars between 2014 and 2017, but his professional career was derailed by a series of knee injuries.

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 19: Louis Nix III #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates near the end of the game against the University of Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 19, 2013 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 14-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Louis Nix III, a star defensive lineman at Notre Dame from 2010 to 2013, has been reported missing in Jacksonville, Fla. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) (Jonathan Daniel via Getty Images)

Brian Kelly asked Notre Dame community for help

Brian Kelly, Nix’s head coach at Notre Dame, sent out a tweet Saturday morning asking for help in locating Nix.

“Notre Dame nation, let’s all do our best to reach out and connect with Louis Nix. Louis, let us know you are doing alright or that you may need your Notre Dame family and friends for assistance,” Kelly wrote.

Nix was shot during a robbery in Jacksonville in December. Nix, in a live video he posted as he was being transported to the hospital, said he was shot and robbed while putting air in his tires.

“If I do not make it, I really love everybody. I can’t contact nobody right now, and I am glad they are putting it on the line for me. I love you all,” Nix said.

Nix survived the attack. The next morning, he wrote on social media that “the bullet that hit me ricocheted off my sternum into my lung.” Nix was released from the hospital Dec. 19 and has been in physical therapy in the weeks since.

Nix’s mother told WJAX-TV that she did not believe her son’s disappearance is related to the robbery attempt.

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