Former Patriots second-round pick Ron Brace dies at age 29

Ron Brace, a defensive tackle who was the New England Patriots’ second-round pick in 2009, died at the age of 29.

Boston College, where Brace played, confirmed the news on Twitter. The Patriots also confirmed the news, via the Boston Globe. The cause of death was not immediately known. Police told MassLive.com that the death was not suspicious.

Brace, a huge 330-pound force in the middle of Boston College’s defensive line, was the 40th overall pick of the 2009 draft. He never quite panned out in the NFL, after the Patriots traded up to select him, as injuries shortened his career. Brace played 39 games, starting seven, for the Patriots from 2009-12. He had 39 career tackles and was part of a Patriots team that advanced to Super Bowl XLVI at the end of the 2011 season.

The Patriots released a statement on Brace’s death:

“We were deeply saddened to hear the news this morning of Ron Brace’s death. Seven years ago tomorrow (4/25/09), we drafted Ron after his standout career at Boston College. During his Patriots career, the Springfield native was always eager to volunteer and give back in our communities, especially when those community initiatives were held in Western Mass. It is difficult to believe that someone so young and in the prime of his life is no longer with us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ron’s family, friends and the many former teammates who will mourn Ron’s passing.”

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab