Tragic cause of death announced for Clemson Tigers national champion receiver

When Clemson announced the death of former wide receiver Diondre Overton on Saturday, it created a ripple effect throughout the game against Appalachian State.

Coach Dabo Swinney, leading his first Tiger Walk of the season, stopped in front of Overton's plaque on the sidewalk commemorating his former role as team captain, leaned down, kissed his hand and placed his hand on Overton's plaque.

After the Tigers won the game, Swinney told reporters that Overton's death was “senseless.”

Now Tigers fans know why Swinney said that.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office released a statement regarding Overton’s cause of death, which was reported by several media outlets, including The State.

Sheriff's officers arrived at a residence in Greensboro, North Carolina, around 2:30 a.m. following reports of a loud party and noise disturbances, including reports of gunshots. Greensboro was Overton's hometown.

Officers determined that Overton had been shot. After receiving medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Guilford County Sheriff's Office is treating Overton's death as an open homicide investigation.

Since leaving Clemson, Overton has played professional football. He went undrafted by the NFL and was signed by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021, but was later released.

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

He played two seasons with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL, as he was drafted in the 16th round in 2022. In two seasons, he made 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. 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 finished his career at Clemson with 52 passes caught 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.