A workhorse running back for Auburn and the Cincinnati Bengals, Rudi Johnson has died at age 45.

TMZ Sports reported on Tuesday that family members said Johnson had died this week and that police in Florida said Johnson had died by suicide shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

Johnson was the SEC Player of the Year with Auburn in 2000 and a Pro Bowl selection with the Bengals in 2004.

Drafted from Auburn in the fourth round in 2001 by Cincinnati, Johnson became the Bengals’ No. 1 running back after the NFL team traded Corey Dillon to the New England Patriots in 2004.

Johnson broke Dillon’s franchise single-season rushing record by going for 1,454 yard and 12 touchdown on 361 carries in 2004, then bettered that record in 2005 when he ran for 1,458 yards and 12 touchdowns on 337 carries.

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