Getty Image
Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was supposed to be the next in line of Tiger greats. The progression from Deshaun Watson to Trevor Lawrence to DJ was supposed to be flawless.
But, that’s not how it turned out. DJ Uiagalelei struggled in his two seasons as Clemson starter, as the team missed the playoff both years after making it six seasons in a row.
It didn’t look like he would struggle at first. As a freshman, he went on the road to Notre Dame when Lawrence was out due to COVID protocols. He nearly beat the playoff-bound Irish, losing 47-40 in overtime. The Don Bosco (CA) alum was one of the Heisman favorites entering 2021. But, the Clemson offense struggled mightily in 2021, and was only slightly better in 2022.
He was benched midseason against Syracuse for five-star freshman Cade Klubnik. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney gave him his job back, but he lost it once again in the ACC Championship Game. DJ had played poorly the week before in a loss to South Carolina that eliminated the Tigers from serious College Football Playoff contention, and the offense started slowly. Klubnik came in and lit it up, completing 20 of 24 attempts for 279 yards and a touchdown as Clemson rolled over UNC to a 39-10 win. At that point, the job was Cade’s, and DJ entered the portal.
Now, it seems like he has found his home.
DJ Uiagalelei will be enrolling at Oregon State, per a report
Uiagalelei was linked with many schools, including UCLA, Florida, and even Hawaii. But, he is going to Oregon State, per a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sources: Former Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is expected to commit to Oregon State. An announcement is expected in the upcoming days.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 24, 2022
Oregon State had a great year under coach Jonathan Smith. They went 10-3 with two close losses and smacked Florida 30-3 in the Las Vegas Bowl. And, they bring a lot of players back.
Oregon State went 10-3, returns all five starters on the offensive line and brings back Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (RB) Damien Martinez. Now they'll have D.J. Uiagalelei competing for the starting QB job. https://t.co/G6dz1pHqV2
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 24, 2022
They will be a sleeper in what should be a competitive PAC 12 next year.