Former Clemson Football Star Dead at 22
C.J. Fuller, a running back on Clemson’s 2016 national championship team, has died. Fuller was just 22.
The cause of death is not known. Pickens County, South Carolina, coroner Kandy Kelley told The Greenville News that Fuller was taken from a family member’s house to Greenville Memorial Hospital on Wednesday.
Fuller was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to the coroner.
Kelley told The News that no further information on the cause of death will be released until after an autopsy is done. The investigation could take six to eight weeks to complete, she said.
Our program is heartbroken this evening to learn of the passing of C.J. Fuller.https://t.co/jWVj4DzFBm
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) October 4, 2018
“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with C.J.’s family,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement. “I’ve known C.J. a long time and watched him grow up through the Easley rec leagues all the way through Easley High School. I’m proud of what he accomplished as a Clemson Tiger, most of all, his accomplishment of being a Clemson graduate. Our deepest condolences and the thoughts of our program are with his family this evening. May he rest in peace.”
Fuller played three seasons for Clemson from 2015 to 2017 after being redshirted in 2014. He played in 43 games for the Tigers over that period, rushing for 599 yards on 147 career carries. He caught 18 passes for 155 yards in his career and had six touchdowns, including four rushing and two receiving touchdowns.
Fuller was part of Clemson teams that made three straight appearances in the College Football Playoffs, winning it all in 2016.
He played a key role on that championship team. In Clemson’s 31-0 win over Ohio State in the semifinal game, Fuller caught a 30-yard touchdown pass, and in the championship game against Alabama, Fuller had a 20-yard kickoff return that set up the Tigers’ nine-play, 68-yard game-winning drive.
Fuller began the 2017 season as Clemson’s starting running back, but he lost that spot after three games and fell down the depth chart.
In February, he announced that he wanted to transfer for his last year of eligibility. However, those plans got derailed in March when he was arrested, along with another Clemson player, Jadar Johnson, and former Duke defensive tackle Quaven Ferguson, on armed robbery charges, The State reported.
Many of Fuller’s former teammates and friends were in shock at the news of his death.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bofbvxen6ek/?utm_source=ig_embed
“My brother I am hurting right now. Somebody wake me up from this nightmare. My brother was supposed to come see me tomorrow. I love you bruh until we meet again,” Shaq Lawson wrote on Instagram. Lawson, a defensive end on the Buffalo Bills, played with Fuller in college.
We are mortal. I am devastated. Praying hard right now for CJ Fuller’s family. Great human.
— Marcus Lattimore (@MarcusLattimore) October 4, 2018
“We are mortal. I am devastated. Praying hard right now for CJ Fuller’s family. Great human,” said Marcus Lattimore, a former University of South Carolina and San Francisco 49ers running back.
People keep asking me how CJ Fuller passed away, but none of that matters right now. A young life is gone, a family is grieving, and former teammates are lost. Just pray for everyone involved
— David Hood (@MDavidHood) October 4, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
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