Two-time national champion receiver of the Clemson Tigers dies at age 26

The Clemson Tigers announced Saturday that Diondre Overton, the Tigers' wide receiver during their two national title games, has died at the age of 26.

The Tigers did not disclose the cause or time of death.

“Clemson football and the entire Clemson family mourns the passing of Clemson alumnus Diondre Overton,” the program wrote in a social media post. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

The news came on the day of Clemson's home opener against Appalachian State at Memorial Stadium. It's likely the Tigers will recall Overton before the game.

Overton has been playing professional football since his final season at Clemson. He went undrafted in the NFL, was signed by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but was released shortly thereafter.

Later in 2021, he signed with the Vienna Vikings of the European League of Football

In 2022, he reached the USFL with the Philadelphia Stars, as he was drafted in the 16th round. He played for the Stars until the 2023 season and finished the season with 42 catches for 533 yards and five touchdowns.

In late 2023, he signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL, but the league merged with the XFL to become the UFL, leading to the demise of the Maulers.

He was selected by Memphis in the UFL dispersal draft in January.

With the Tigers, he was part of their 2016 and 2018 national championship teams, catching passes from Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence. In his final season in 2020, he developed into one of their top receivers.

Overton caught a touchdown pass in each of the first two games of Clemson's 2018 national championship season, including Clemson's penultimate touchdown in a 28-26 win at Texas A&M.

His best game was against Boston College, where he set the school record for three receiving touchdowns in a game and set a personal record with 119 receiving yards.

Overton chose Clemson over NC State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. In his career, he caught 52 passes for 777 yards and seven touchdowns.

Overton, a native of Greensboro, NC, signed with the Tigers out of Walter Hines Page High School. He was the state's fourth-best prospect, according to 247Sports. He was a two-sport star at Hines, where he also played basketball.