Former Northwest Missouri State running back James Franklin has died according to the Olathe Police Department.

A spokesman for the department said officers found Franklin, 23, dead after responding to a call Monday morning at The Edge apartment complex at 12200 S. Strang Line Rd. in Olathe.  He also says that Franklin’s death “looks to be a suicide.”

Franklin stared at Olathe North high school and led them to undefeated season and the Kansas Class 6A state championship in 2009, when the Eagles defeated Wichita Heights.

He ran for 2,803 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior and broke Darren Sproles’ single-season rushing record, earning the Simone Award as the Kansas City area’s top player.

Franklin signed with the University of Nebraska-Omaha out of high school and rushed for 766 yards and 10 touchdown in 11 games as a freshman.

The Mavericks then dismantled their football program and Franklin transferred to Northwest Missouri State.

He led the Bearcats with 1,247 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore and also led Northwest as a junior with 733 yards and 12 touchdowns, but was ruled academically ineligible before his senior season in 2013.