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By Dan Cancian
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Former Clemson Tigers running back C.J. Fuller has died, the school confirmed on Wednesday night.
Circumstances surrounding the 22-year-old's death remain unclear. Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley told The Grenville News the investigation could take up to eight weeks.
Kelley said Fuller had been hospitalized at Greenville Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and added further details will be released once an autopsy is completed.
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Fuller was reportedly taken to the hospital from a family member's house located in Pickens County.
In a statement, Clemson mourned the death of its former student.
"Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with C.J.'s family," Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said.
"I've known C.J. a long time and watched him grow up through the Easley rec leagues [in South Carolina] 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 43 games for the Tigers between 2015 and 2017, recording 599 rushing yards across 147 carries and four touchdowns. In 2016, he was part of the Clemson team that won the national title and played an instrumental role in the Tigers' run to the title, scoring a 30-yard receiving touchdown in the semifinal as Clemson thrashed Ohio State 31-0.
In the final against Alabama, Fuller's 20-yard kick-off return set up a nine-play, 68-yard drive that sealed a 35-31 win, which avenged the 45-40 reverse the Tigers had suffered against the same opponent a year earlier.
In 2017, Fuller began the season as a starter and amassed 217 rushing yards and three touchdowns over 58 rushing attempts, adding seven receptions for 49 yards. At the end of the season in February, Fuller then left Clemson as a graduate transfer and was expected to continue his collegiate program on a different program.
However, the move never materialized and a month later Fuller was one of three individuals accused of robbing someone at gunpoint after reportedly forcing their way into an apartment in downtown Clemson.
Along with former Clemson teammate Jadar Johnson and former high school teammate Quaven Ferguson, Fuller was arrested on March 28 and charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.
However, the case did not go to trial.
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