CLEMSON — As he came walking down Tiger Walk prior to No. 25 Clemson’s 66-20 win over Appalachian State Saturday, Dabo Swinney noticed a bouquet of flowers resting on the name plate of Diondre Overton, who was listed as a captain on Clemson’s 2018 National Championship Team.
“That was a pretty special thing to see walking in. So, whoever did that, I appreciate that,” an emotional Swinney said.
The flowers were placed on Overton’s captain’s plaque after the Clemson Family learned of the former Tiger’s sudden death Saturday morning. Overton was reportedly shot and killed while trying to break up a fight in his hometown of Greensboro, N.C., early Saturday morning.
When Swinney saw Overton’s captain’s plaque, he bent down, paused, kissed his hand and then placed it for a second on Overton’s name for getting back up and continuing his walk.
“The good news is, I know where he is. I know he is with the Good Lord,” Swinney said. “He was actually baptized while he was here at Clemson. I have a picture of that on my phone. His life was cut way too short.”
The Clemson Football team honored Overton when they got to the top of the hill to touch Howard’s Rock.
Redshirt freshman safety Rob Billings and redshirt sophomore quarterback Trent Pearman — both of whom wear No. 14 — led the team down the hill before the Tigers and Mountaineers kicked off.
It was a tribute to Overton, who, of course, wore the No. 14 for the Tigers when he played for Clemson from 2016-’19.
Billings and Pearman ran all the way down the hill and were in the end zone before Swinney let anybody else run down. Swinney said the idea came from one of the players on the team.
“You know what, that is a great idea. We got two of them. Let’s bring them both out. Let’s shoot the cannon and let both guys go down the hill,” Swinney said. “I don’t know if y’all saw it, but when we were coming in [the stadium], there was this amazing picture of the sun beaming down from the clouds. I do not if any of you saw that, but it was this really cool picture, almost spiritual to see it.
“It was awesome to be able to honor him and just show our love for him and his family. It is a very difficult day for a lot of people who loved Diondre Overton. It was just kind of something we thought about and decided to do. We let them get down the hill and then we came on down.”
As can be imagined, when Swinney got the news Saturday morning at the team hotel, it was a hard thing for him to process.
“I was in my room this morning. I got a couple of text messages. Robbie Caldwell was the first one who texted me to let me know what was going on,” Swinney recalled. “He had recruited Diondre and then I ended up talking to Brian, his stepdad. Just really hard to process. I just could not believe it.”
Overton, who helped Clemson to national championships in both 2016 and 2018, was 26 years old.
“It took the wind out of my body this morning,” Swinney said. “I had an opportunity to speak to his dad, and obviously, they are hurting. It is hard to process something like this and so senseless. A beautiful young life was cut short at twenty-six.”
A two-time national champion and four-time ACC champion, Overton caught a touchdown pass in each of the first two games of Clemson’s 2018 national championship season, including Clemson’s penultimate score of its 28-26 win at Texas A&M.
“Man, I loved Diondre Overton. He was great. He was one of the best teammates to come through here,” Swinney said.
Overton recorded a career year as a senior in 2019, catching 22 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns. That year, he earned the Leather Helmet Award as the Most Valuable Player of the Clemson-Boston College game for a performance in which he posted 119 yards and three touchdowns on only three receptions.
“I still remember him putting the leather helmet on after scoring three touchdowns against Boston College,” Swinney said. “He truly was one of the sweetest and most spirited kids that we had come through here. He was a true leader and a great teammates. My heart hurts and my prayers are with his family.”
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