Andre Seldon Jr., a promising football player, tragically lost his life in an apparent cliff-diving accident at Porcupine Reservoir on July 20, 2024. The incident occurred just weeks before he was set to begin classes and start his football career with Utah State University.
Seldon had a rich athletic background, having spent the previous two seasons at Michigan and two seasons at New Mexico State. During his time at New Mexico State, he started all 15 games in 2023 and was set to join Utah State this fall as a transfer student.
The tragic incident unfolded on a sunny afternoon when Seldon went cliff-diving with friends at Porcupine Reservoir. Witnesses reported that he dove into the water from the cliffs but did not resurface. Authorities were alerted to the situation, and a search and rescue team was dispatched to locate him.
The Cache County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Seldon's body was found in the reservoir at 9:05 p.m. MT by the Utah Department of Public Safety dive team. The initial investigation suggests that this was a tragic accident, as multiple witnesses reported the same sequence of events.
Utah State University and New Mexico State University expressed their condolences to Seldon's family and friends upon hearing the news. Nate Dreiling, Utah State's interim head coach who had previously coached Seldon at New Mexico State, shared his thoughts on the loss of a valuable teammate.
Seldon is survived by his parents, Danielle Smith and Andre Seldon Sr. The Utah State football community is grieving the loss of one of their own and working to provide emotional and mental support to those affected by this tragedy.
Andre Seldon Jr.'s life was cut short at the age of 22, leaving behind a legacy as an incredible person and teammate. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him best.
