A college football player who was poised to play for Utah State University in the fall was found dead Saturday after what authorities described as an apparent cliff-diving accident, the school confirmed.
Andre Seldon Jr. was identified by the university in a statement mourning his death, noting that the cornerback was a recent transfer from New Mexico State University. It was there that Seldon played two seasons for Nate Dreiling, Utah State’s interim head coach.
Dreiling said that the football program was “heartbroken to have to endure the loss of one of our own.”
“Having had a previous relationship with Andre during our time together at New Mexico State, I can tell you he was an incredible person and teammate,” Dreiling said. “Our condolences and prayers go out to Andre’s family as we grieve with them over this tremendous loss.”
The Cache County Sheriff’s Office in Logan, Utah, said it received reports of a possible drowning at Porcupine Dam on Saturday afternoon. Witnesses told authorities that a young man did not resurface after he was seen diving into the reservoir from the cliffside.
Dive teams found him just after 9 p.m. on Saturday, roughly seven hours after the sheriff’s department was first called to the scene. The sheriff’s office confirmed that the man was a student-athlete at Utah State but did not identify him following his death.
“Our initial investigation leads us to believe this is a tragic accident as multiple witnesses recount the same information,” the sheriff’s office said. “Our heartfelt condolences go to family and friends of the student athlete.”
The university said it was working to provide students and staff members at the athletics department emotional and mental support following Seldon’s death.
Seldon began his collegiate football career at the University of Michigan, his home state, in 2020 before transferring as a redshirt freshman to New Mexico State, according to his profile from New Mexico State. He graduated from Belleville High School, where he played football and participated on the school’s track-and-field team.
He started 12 out of 13 games with New Mexico State in 2022, ranking fifth on the team for tackles, his profile said.
Both New Mexico State and the University of Michigan released statements on social media Sunday morning in tribute to Seldon.
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