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Ex Raven Lorenzo Taliaferro once drove 8 fans through the night to a storm-delayed match where he was honored

A family member told Fox Baltimore that the 28-year-old had died from a heart attack.

Lorenzo Taliaferro, former running back for the Baltimore Ravens, has died of a heart attack in his native Virginia at just 28. His death was announced by the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office Wednesday night without revealing a cause. However, a family member told Fox Baltimore that Taliaferro had died from a heart attack.

"Earlier today, December 16, 2020, at approximately 3.07 pm Deputies were dispatched to the 100 Block of Windsor Lane for a call of someone needing medical attention," the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "Medics also arrived and transported the patient to a local hospital where he later passed away. Lorenzo Taliaferro was 28 years old. We cannot release any medical information. Our sincere condolences, thoughts, and prayers go out to his family and friends."

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh expressed his condolences in a statement on Thursday. "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lorenzo Taliaferro," Harbaugh said. "Lorenzo was a kind, smart, respectful, and determined young man -- someone always committed to his teammates and well-liked by everyone in our organization. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Lorenzo's family. May he rest in peace."  

Despite having played only three seasons at the NFL, Taliaferro's demise sparked a major outpouring of love on social media from colleagues and fans alike, many of whom retold stories about his unmatched kindness and generosity.

Taking to Twitter, Coastal Carolina alum Brandon Charpied recalled a previous interaction with Taliaferro from 2014, shortly after he was drafted by the Ravens. Charpied remembered how Taliaferro was set to be honored by CCU at a home game in South Carolina, but was heavily delayed by a storm. 

The erstwhile NFL star encountered several CCU families on the way who were trying to get to the 'Parents Day' game, and so he offered to rent a van and drive them the rest of the way. Taliaferro ended up driving eight parents through the night to reach Conway, South Carolina at around 4 am in the morning. The families he drove to the game, however, only learned during halftime that their driver was an NFL star who was being honored by his former team and school.

"He never once said who he was but just an alum of Coastal Carolina and a fan trying to get down for the game to root for his alma mater," Charpied wrote in a 2014 email to the Ravens, which he shared on Twitter.

That said, Taliaferro had a rather unusual path to the NFL. He first attended a Williamsburg, Virginia high school before moving to tiny Lackawanna College in Scranton, before eventually transferring to Coastal Carolina on a full scholarship.

Taliaferro was drafted with the 138th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft and appeared in 19 games overall. He rushed for 339 yards and scored five touchdowns while adding 16 receptions for 153 yards. He was cut by the team in 2017 and briefly resurfaced in the sport with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. "Just heard about the passing of former Ravens RB and Coastal Carolina/Lackawanna College great Lorenzo Taliaferro," wrote one fan on Twitter. "I have been seeing stories about how many lives he has touched and what he meant to so many people in every community he was in. We lost a good one today."

"Rest easy Lorenzo Taliaferro, way too soon," New York Jets Asst. Coach Todd Washington added.