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Dabo Swinney knew that Saturday night’s victory over Appalachian State could wait.
So, the Clemson head coach instead began his postgame press conference with a tribute to former Tigers wide receiver Diondre Overton, who died at age 26 on Friday.
Swinney called it a “senseless” death that “took the wind out of me.” Swinney raved about Overton, who helped lead the Tigers to national championships in 2016 and ’18.
“I love Diondre Overton,” Swinney said. “He was one of the best teammates that we’ve had come through here. He was here 5 years. Two-time national champion. Voted captain by his teammates … He truly was just one of the sweetest-spirited kids that we’ve had come through here and again, truly a great teammate. My heart hurts and my prayers are with his family.”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney starting off his postgame presser with a tribute to former Tigers WR Diondre Overton, who died at age 26. Calls it a “senseless” death that “took the wind out of me” but he raves about Overton as a player and teammate pic.twitter.com/gFCeyMnN4L
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) September 8, 2024
During “Tiger Walk” that preceded Saturday night’s game, Swinney paused as he entered Memorial Stadium, knelt and blew a kiss to Overton’s captain plaque in what was an emotional moment.
Overton caught 52 passes for 777 yards during his 4-year career at Clemson.
Overton went on to play professionally in the USFL, catching 42 passes for 533 yards and 5 touchdowns for the Philadelphia Stars during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
A native of Greensboro, N.C., Overton signed with the Tigers out of Walter Hines Page High School. He earned his degree from Clemson in sports communications in the summer of 2019.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
