Former Clemson Football Star Diondre Overton Dies at 26

Mar. 15, 2025

Diondre Overton in 2019.Photo:Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Former Clemson University football star Diondre Overton has died. He was 26.

Clemsonannounced the wide receiver’s deathon Saturday, Sept. 7.

“Clemson Football and the entire Clemson Family mourns the passing of Clemson alumnus Diondre Overton,” the university’s football program also wrote onX(formerly Twitter). “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Amemorial for Overton has been createdat his plaque on the Tiger Walk outside of Memorial Stadium on the South Carolina school’s campus.

Deputies received an update on their way to the location that a shooting had occurred, per the statement. The victim, identified as Overton, was “was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the Sheriff’s Office said, noting that the incident “remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation.”

Overton — who was from Greensboro — played on Clemson’s football team from 2016 to 2019, during which the Tigers clinched two national championships. In his senior year, the late athlete was voted team captain, perABC News. Throughout his career at Clemson, he had 52 passes for 777 yards and seven touchdowns over 51 games with five starts.

Overton won the Leather Helmet Award as the Most Valuable Player his senior year, following Clemson’s game against Boston College, in which he posted 119 yards and scored three touchdowns. Overton graduated fromClemsonin 2019 with a degree in sports communication.

Diondre Overton in April 2024.Wes Hale/UFL/Getty

Wes Hale/UFL/Getty

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After graduating from Clemson, Overton briefly played football at the professional level. He was part of Canada’s FL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Vienna Vikings of the European Football League, according toCBS Sports.

Diondre Overton in March 2024.Fox Sports/UFL/Getty

Fox Sports/UFL/Getty

Overton’s former teammates shared tributes online. Clemson alum and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins wrote on hisInstagram Stories: “Brotha I miss you already man. I love you 5L….I’m hurting bad bout this right now. Rest Easy Big Play.”

Amari Rodgers, another Clemson teammate of Overton’s, wrote onX: “Life ain’t fair man. Please tell your loved ones you love them cause you truly never know. Long live Dre.”

Clemson alum Xavier Thomas, who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals, posted onX: “BIGPLAYDRE .. I love you bro. Fly High Twin🥺💔.”

source: people.com