Former Clemson player Diondre Overton killed in shooting, NC police say
The Clemson football team is mourning the passing of a former wide receiver who was killed in an overnight shooting in his hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina.
The team confirmed in a statement Saturday morning that former Tigers receiver Diondre Overton has died. He was 26 years old.
“Clemson Football and the entire Clemson Family mourns the passing of Clemson alumnus Diondre Overton,” the team wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Later Saturday, the Guilford County (NC) Sheriff’s Office provided new details on the circumstances surrounding Overton’s death.
Guilford County Sheriff Danny H. Rogers wrote in a press release that around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday his deputies responded to a call “regarding a loud party and noise disturbance” at a residential address in Greensboro.
“As they made their way to the scene, deputies received updated information indicating that a shooting had occured,” Rogers said.
Upon arrival, deputies located the shooting victim and identified him as Overton.
“Despite immediate medical aid, Mr. Overton was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Rogers said.
No arrest has been made as of early Sunday, but Rogers said his office sees the incident as isolated and “it remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation.”
Overton played for Clemson from 2016-19 and was part of the Tigers’ 2016 and 2018 national championship teams. He had 52 career catches for 777 yards and seven touchdowns in 51 games (five starts) and also played professionally in the USFL.
He played for the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars in 2022 and 2023 and the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and was on the Memphis Showboats’ roster at the time of his death.
A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Overton was a top 200 national recruit coming out of Page High School before he signed with Clemson. He graduated from the school with a sports communication degree in summer 2019.
Clemson players, coaches mourn loss
A number of Overton’s former teammates and coaches took to social media Saturday to express condolences and share memories of the former receiver.
“Life ain’t fair man!!! Please tell your loved ones you love them cause you truly never know,” former Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers said. “Long Live Dre.”
“Brotha I miss you already man,” another Clemson receiver, Tee Higgins, wrote on Instagram. “I’m hurtin bad bout this right now. Rest easy.”
Jeff Scott, Overton’s former position coach at Clemson, wrote: “Words can’t express the (heartbreak) we all have today. Dre was a special young man that had a bright smile that would always light up the room. Thoughts and prayers for his family, friends and former teammates.”
Overton’s death came on the same day of Clemson’s 2024 home opener at Memorial Stadium. The No. 25 Tigers beat App State, 66-20, on Saturday night and honored Overton throughout the contest.
“So senseless and just a beautiful, young life cut short at 26,” coach Dabo Swinney said postgame. “But man, I love DeAndre Overton. He was a great. He’s one of the best teammates that we’ve had come through here. ... He truly was just one of the sweetest spirits.”
This story was originally published September 7, 2024 at 1:47 PM.
