Man charged with murder of former Clemson WR Diondre Overton

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A 20-year-old man was arrested in Michigan and charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of former Clemson administrator Diondre Overton last month, police in North Carolina said Tuesday.

Jeremiah Diago Blanks is believed to have killed Overton at a gathering in the former player’s hometown of Greensboro, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Guilford County Sheriff Danny H. Rogers said investigators traveled to Michigan and received help from the U.S. Marshals Service in arresting Blanks.

Police did not release any further information about Blanks or a possible motive for the killing. He was being held at the Oakland County Jail in the Detroit suburb of Pontiac, Michigan, awaiting extradition to North Carolina.

Overton, 26, was found the morning of Sept. 7 after officers responded to reports of a loud party. He received medical treatment but died at the scene of the accident.

Overton played for Clemson from 2016 to 2019 and was part of the national title teams following the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

He had 52 catches for 777 yards and seven touchdowns for the Tigers.

News of Overton’s death came just hours before the Tigers’ 66-20 victory over Appalachian State on Sept. 10. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney stopped to acknowledge Overton’s plaque as the team entered the stadium.

“He was truly one of the sweetest, most spirited kids we’ve seen here and, again, a really great teammate,” Swinney said that night.