Former Clemson Football Star Diondre Overton Dies at 26

The wide receiver — who played for the Clemson Tigers from 2016 until 2019 — was shot and killed in the early hours of Sept. 7 in North Carolina, according to the Guilford County Sheriff's Office

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

Clemson announced the wide receiver's death on 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 on X (formerly Twitter). "Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

A memorial for Overton has been created at his plaque on the Tiger Walk outside of Memorial Stadium on the South Carolina school's campus.

According to a statement shared on X by the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, Overton was shot and killed in the early hours of Sept. 7. Deputies "responded to a call regarding a loud party and noise disturbance" around 2:30 a.m. at 3205 Spring Mill Road in Greensboro, N.C.

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, per ABC 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 from Clemson in 2019 with a degree in sports communication.

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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 to CBS Sports.

In 2022, per the outlet, the athlete was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars and spent two seasons there. Overton was most recently selected to play on UFL's Memphis Showboats.

Overton's former teammates shared tributes online. Clemson alum and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins wrote on his Instagram 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 on X: "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 on X: "BIGPLAYDRE .. I love you bro. Fly High Twin🥺💔."

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