Former Alabama fullback Kevin Turner died at his Vestavia Hills home this morning after a long battle with ALS.

Turner, 46, was diagnosed with the motor neuron disease in 2010 after playing for Alabama and for eight seasons in the NFL during the 1990s. He was active in education about ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

He was placed on hospice two days ago, and was surrounded by friends and family when he passed away today. He leaves behind his wife, Allison, and three children, Nolan, 18, Natalie, 15 and Cole, 12, as well as his parents, Raymond and Myra, Turner and other family members.

Turner was a teammate of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's at Alabama before going pro with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. Just two months ago, his son Nolan committed to Clemson.

His father, Raymond Turner, posted this on Facebook: "Just wanted to tell everyone, Myra and I lost a great son today. He will be missed so much, Thank everyone so very much over this journey we have had for all your support, prayers. He was ready to go to Heaven, excited he said. Love y'all, and thanks God Bless."

In the NFL, Turner played for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. In June 2010, Turner was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. He was involved in research that links chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to ALS, and agreed to donate his brain and spinal cord when he died. He also started The Kevin Turner Foundation.

His battle with ALS was documented in the music video for the song, "Journey On," by Ty Herndon. He and his children were in the music video with Herndon.

In 2012, Turner worked with Jon Frankel of HBO for the documentary "American Man," which was about Turner's life and his ALS battle.

"What made Kevin's story appealing to me was, as successful as he was, he was not a household name outside of Patriots and Eagles fans and really avid football fans,'' said American Man filmmaker Jon Frankel in 2012. "He was the real lunch bucket guy. He literally put on his hard hat and went to work everyday."

Turner in 2012 said he had little doubt that there was a direct link between brain trauma and ALS. "I love football, always have, always will,'' Turner said in 2012. "I know that all these hits to the head have contributed to my diagnosis. I just know it."

"But it could have been avoided, I believe, by just being smarter about it,'' he said. "When you have had a concussion or you are seeing stars and hearing ringing in your head, you've got to report it to the trainers or the medical staff, and you need to take a break."