Former Grand Valley State University quarterback Cullen Finnerty who was found dead in the woods of Michigan on Tuesday may have suffered from a mental episode before his death, police authorities told Wood TV.

Lake County Sheriff Robert Hilts told the Michigan-based station that Finnerty's last phone call was with relatives on Sunday evening, when the former football star revealed that he was experiencing "paranoia."

Finnerty's family members informed Hilts that "he might be having some kind of a mental episode - that he was either afraid or something and ran off into the woods," according to Wood TV.

Relatives also told Hilts that he suffered concussions during his time at Grand Valley State University, prompting officials to conduct a full examination of his mental state.

His body was found at about 8 p.m. in woods less than a mile away from where disappeared after embarking on a fishing trip alone, Lake County Undersheriff Dennis Robinson told Michigan Live.

"We don't know exactly how long Mr. Finnerty has been in that location, but the first night that he called in, the family had been in that area calling and that sort of thing to see if he was in that area, but they weren't able to find him," Hilts told Wood TV.

The football star was found with no wounds or injuries.

Finnerty earned Grand Valley State University three Division II national titles and over 50 wins throughout his tenure as an undergraduate. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos.