Jerry Kill mourns former Utah State football player
News of Andre Seldon Jr.’s sudden and tragic death this weekend reverberated from Michigan to Utah to New Mexico and even to Nashville, where one of his former coaches has just begun working for the Vanderbilt University football program.
Seldon, who transferred from New Mexico State to Utah State in the offseason, died Saturday from an apparent drowning when he jumped off a cliff into a Utah reservoir, local authorities said. He was 22 years old.
Seldon, a defensive back from Belleville, Michigan, began his college career at the University of Michigan before transferring to New Mexico State, where he played the final two seasons for coach Jerry Kill.
Kill resigned as head coach at New Mexico State in December after leading the team to its first 10-win season since 1960. He was subsequently hired by Vanderbilt as senior adviser to the head coach and senior offensive consultant.
In a statement released by Vanderbilt on Sunday, Kill said Seldon was like a son to him.
“I am deeply saddened by Andre’s tragic passing. I will always love Andre like a son,” Kill’s statement began. “His smile lit up any room. His leadership skills were unmatched. Everyone who knew him was drawn to him and his bright and infectious spirit. His teammates and I will always cherish the memories of our unforgettable time together. My deepest condolences go out to all the people who were inspired and loved by Andre.”
The Cache County Sheriff’s Office in Utah initially announced around 2:20 p.m. Saturday that a search and rescue mission was underway after “a young man was observed jumping off the cliffs into the water and not resurfacing.” In the early hours of Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the Utah Department of Public Safety dive team had found the man, later identified as Seldon, underwater in Porcupine Reservoir, according to the Detroit Free Press.
“Our investigation leads us to believe this was a tragic accident as multiple witnesses are reporting the same information,” the Cache County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to CBS.
The Utah State football program confirmed on social media Sunday morning that it was mourning the loss of Seldon, who appeared in 28 games for New Mexico State over two seasons for Kill. He transferred to Utah State after former New Mexico defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling was hired as Utah State’s defensive coordinator. Dreiling was recently promoted to interim coach after Utah State abruptly fired former coach Blake Anderson earlier this month.
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