Tag: D.J. Uiagalalei

Tigers talk Uiagalelei’s response to criticism: ‘We wouldn’t be here without D.J.’

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei has been the prime target of criticism when it comes to the woes of the Clemson offense over the course of the last two seasons. However, over and over again, the Clemson coaches and the entire team has praised …

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei has been the prime target of criticism when it comes to the woes of the Clemson offense over the course of the last two seasons. However, over and over again, the Clemson coaches and the entire team has praised the signal caller’s poise under the microscope of criticism.

On Monday, the Tigers talked to the media about how the California native has developed such a high level of resilience over the past two years.

Tight end Jake Briningstool shared that he has a high level of respect for the starting quarterback. From the tight end’s perspective, Uiagalelei has led the offense and picked them up when adversity has come their way throughout the course of the season.

“It just comes with the position and all the criticism and everything that comes to it,” Briningstool said. “I think for D.J. especially, everything he has gone through over the past two years, year and a half, I think it has really bettered him and made him a better quarterback, a better teammate, a better leader. I think everything has just been for the positive.

“I love D.J., I would go to war for D.J., I would do anything for D.J. I think just being there for him, giving him his confidence, letting him know that it’s OK to make a mistake, we’ll have your back. I think that’s just really helped him up. We’ve picked him up when he’s needed it and he’s picked us up as an offense when we needed it. We wouldn’t be here without D.J.”

Senior offensive lineman Jordan McFadden believes that Uiagalelei’s ability to brush off the criticism and continue to put his head down is a testament to his character.

“I can honestly say that he hasn’t changed at all,” McFadden said. “When he’s playing, he’s the same person, but maybe when he’s not playing as good that day and that gives Cade (Klubnik) a shot, he’s that same guy. He’s supportive of Cade and the whole offense. He wants to see the offense and the team succeed whether he’s in there or not. As a leader, as a quarterback of the team, that’s tough to watch when you’re not leading the show or you’re not in there, but that speaks of what kind of guy he is. To understand he is maybe not playing his best, but supportive and leading, that tells you what kind of guy he is.

“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever played with. Just year in, year out, last year, this year, every game, whenever something goes wrong, he gets 90 percent or 100 percent of the criticism, but the majority of the time, it’s really not his fault, if we’re being honest.”

No one has more praise for Uiagalelei than Brandon Streeter, who shared that of course the quarterback has faced adversity, but that’s life. The offensive coordinator emphasized that in football, it’s all about how one responds to the adversity they face, and that’s something he believes Uiagalelei has done an excellent job at. When adversity has come the quarterback’s way, he has learned, grown and become the best version of himself.

“I can’t say enough about that kid, about D.J., and his heart, and his character, his perseverance,” Streeter said. “He has never wavered in his work ethic, and we saw some heavy adversity last year and then the best part about it is, you try to learn from the adversity and that’s what he’s been able to do. He’s had some adversity this year too, but he’s able to respond and that’s what life is about.”

Uiagalelei talks how energy shift helped propel Clemson to win

After a tough loss on the road to Notre Dame, all eyes were on how Clemson would respond to adversity. With the spotlight cast upon quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, there was some pressure to see how he could lead this offense out of the hole it was …

After a tough loss on the road to Notre Dame, all eyes were on how Clemson would respond to adversity. With the spotlight cast upon quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, there was some pressure to see how he could lead this offense out of the hole it was left in following the loss to the Irish. However, the junior signal caller displayed why he’s the starting quarterback for the Tigers in the 31-16 win over the Cardinals.

Uiagalelei spoke to the media after the win over Louisville and was candid that in the previous two games, he was not playing to the standard that he expects of himself.

“I haven’t been playing where I want to play at,” he said, “and the biggest thing for me is to go out there and just play my game, just go out there and have fun, have some joy and cut it loose.”

However, the strength of a great team lies in how it responds to adversity, and that’s exactly what the Tigers had to do coming into the game this week. Uiagalelei reflected on how the energy the team brought to practice this week seamlessly translated into its performance in the game.

“I thought we responded good,” he said. “I felt like we had a good week of practice. I felt like we came out and responded well. I felt like we played hard and that was the biggest thing. I felt like we played real hard. I thought everyone out there was out there playing and having fun. At the end of the day, I thought we were physical and we came out there and dominated.”

“I think the biggest thing was to come out here and I definitely think we wanted to play good tonight and we definitely wanted to play great,” he added. “We wanted to come out here and dominate and try to get back on track for how we play offense.”

According to the signal caller, energy is everything. From practice to the win over Louisville, the team brought the energy this week and that made all the difference in the quarterback’s eyes. Going forward, Uiagalelei emphasized the importance of harnessing this type of energy and preparation for the final stretch of the season.

“It definitely was a great week,” he said. “The biggest thing was the energy was up. The energy was great. Everyone was executing well. We have energy and people out there want to practice, that’s the biggest thing. For us, we will be able to harness that and keep that going. We just need to see when we put weeks together like that, with that type of energy, that type of preparation, that type of focus, then the sky’s the limit for us.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Collins on where Uiagalelei is at: ‘He’s already past it, he’s in good spirits’

After three turnovers against Syracuse, D.J. Uiagalelei was sent to the sidelines in the third quarter of the game. However, with a week of rest and recovery, Clemson is preparing for the next task at hand, which is traveling to face Notre Dame this …

After three turnovers against Syracuse, D.J. Uiagalelei was sent to the sidelines in the third quarter of the game. However, with a week of rest and recovery, Clemson is preparing for the next task at hand, which is traveling to face Notre Dame this Saturday.

Offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter shared with the media that the quarterback has already moved past what happened against Syracuse and has directed his attention this week toward preparing to face the next opponent.

It wasn’t just Streeter who spoke on Uiagalelei moving past his performance versus Syracuse, but his teammates as well.

Sophomore wide receiver Beaux Collins, who played with Uiagalelei in high school (St. John Bosco), spoke on the signal-caller’s resilience, not just after Syracuse, but throughout the entire time he has known him.

Collins shared that within one day, he saw Uiagalelei already back “in good spirits.”

“After the game, he’ll be a little down on himself, but back when we come in on Monday, even Sundays when I see him, he’s already past it, he’s in good spirits,” he said. “I’m never worried about him, for sure.”

The California native described Uiagalelei as having a high level of self-awareness, which he believes contributes to the effectiveness of his leadership out there on the field. Although Uiagalelei is acutely self-aware, some of that confidence comes from the support of his teammates.

Collins spoke to the fact that the team constantly reminds Uiagalelei that they have his back, which is important especially in the final stretch of the season where confidence is everything.

“It’s a little bit of both for sure,” he said. “It kind of goes to show, D.J., he’s very self-aware and he’s a strong leader for this team, so all we do is let him know we got his back the majority of the time and he takes care of the rest. He comes back the next day ready to work no matter what happens.”

Uiagalelei is looking to repeat his strong 2020 performance at Notre Dame this weekend. Then a freshman, he threw for 439 yards on that occasion and he will look to rival that performance with the confidence of his teammates behind him in South Bend this Saturday.

What We Heard: D.J. Uiagalelei

Coming off a nail-biter win against Wake Forest this past Saturday, Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei spoke with the media on Monday just days before the team’s top-10 matchup in Death Valley against N.C. State. Uiagalelei threw for a season-high …

Coming off a nail-biter win against Wake Forest this past Saturday, Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei spoke with the media on Monday just days before the team’s top-10 matchup in Death Valley against N.C. State. 

Uiagalelei threw for a season-high 371 yards with 5 touchdowns in the 51-45 double overtime win against Wake Forest. 

“It was a crazy game… it was a dog fight all the way until the end and I am glad we came out with a win,” said Uiagalelei “It just showed how much heart we have, we battled until the very end… It was a fun game to be a part of.”

Following last year’s double overtime 27-21 loss to the Wolfpack that knocked the Tigers out of College Football Playoff contention, Uiagalelei is eager to be facing them again, but this time at home under the lights in Death Valley.

“It’s going to be great,” he said. “The stadium is going to be packed…N.C. State is a great football team, and I am excited to get to work.”

Even among all the excitement for the game this Saturday night, Uiagaliei has not forgotten how it feels to lose. He still thinks about that fourth-down incomplete pass that helped the Pack seal the win and spoke about how he does not want a repeat of last year. 

“I remember losing the game, I remember how I felt. I felt like there were a lot of plays that I left out there that I wish I had back” said Uiagalelei on Monday “It definitely sucked losing, I hate losing but coming in this year I am excited to be able to play against them. It’s going to be a great game, they are a great team, and I am looking forward to being able to play them here at home.”

Uiagalelei has grown a lot since the loss to N.C. State last year, and seems to continue to grow each game. The offense finally seems to be getting into a routine with each other, and Uiagalelei believes this is just the beginning for him and the offense this season.

“I think there are always more things I have to do, each and every week my biggest thing is just to learn and get better and be able to grow from last week. I did a lot of stuff well last week, but all of that doesn’t carry over because it’s a new week, and I have to be able to go out there and produce again and do even better,” Uiagalelei said. “And as an offense, we keep getting better each and every game, I think that the sky’s the limit for what we can do on offense, and I feel like last week a lot of stuff started coming together”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

What We Heard: Beaux Collins

Clemson wide receiver Beaux Collins spoke to the media on Monday to discuss his thoughts on last weekend’s game, his relationship with fellow quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and the perceived growth of him individually and Clemson’s offense as a whole. …

Clemson wide receiver Beaux Collins spoke to the media on Monday to discuss his thoughts on last weekend’s game, his relationship with fellow quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and the perceived growth of him individually and Clemson’s offense as a whole.

When asked by the media how it feels to be a sophomore and have the title of the “old man” in terms of experience out of the wide receivers, Beaux beamed with gratitude.

“It’s pretty crazy,” he said. “A year ago, I didn’t think I would be in this position right now, so I am just blessed to be here.”

After storming onto the scene last season and with two touchdowns already under his belt after week two, Collins is a player that will be spending lots of time in the spotlight as a key component of Clemson’s offense.

Regarding last weekend’s game, reporters acknowledged that there was lots of criticism on the outcome of the game, and people expected to see more out of Clemson, especially on the offensive side.

Collins, along with the rest of the team, has responded to the criticism simply by not listening to it.

“People said we didn’t do as good as we should have against Furman,” he said. “However, we did a lot of great things and things that we haven’t done in the past. We still have some mistakes we need to clean up, but overall I thought we did a pretty good job.”

Multiple reporters alluded to Collins’ relationship with Uiagalelei, considering the two have played together since their high school days at St. John Bosco, a California powerhouse known nationally to produce raw talent like Collins and Uiagalelei.

Due to their experience playing together, Collins noted that they definitely have their chemistry worked out and they move together seamlessly on the field.

“We’ve been playing together for a couple of years now,” Collins said, “so I know where he’s going to put the ball and DJ knows where I’m going to be. [We have a close relationship] to the point where if a play breaks down, I’m going to get open and I’m going to let him know that.” 

Since Collins has been around Uiagalelei for some time now, he has been able to witness the growth of Uiagalelei first-hand, especially when it comes to his aura and how he’s carried himself on and off the field.

“This is probably the most comfortable I’ve seen [DJ] ever; he is dialed in every single practice and is leading the team in a great way,” Collins said.

As the interview was wrapping up, someone was curious as to what the phrase “Beaux Time” entailed, which Collins has been promoting through his new merchandise line that he released on Wednesday via Instagram.

“It [started out as] a celebration; a couple of my teammates said it around the facility last year, and my dad hyped it up too,” he said. It came to mind after my first touchdown I had, so I kind of just ran with it from there.”

Hopefully, the combination of Collins’ experience as a receiver and his chemistry with Uiagalelei will elicit several “Beaux Time” celebrations throughout the remainder of the season.

Swinney: ‘I saw what I needed to see’ around Uiagalelei

If there was one thing that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney harped on after last season, it was that his team wasn’t good enough around D.J. Uiagalelei. Of course, the junior quarterback wasn’t blameless with his performance in his first full season as a …

If there was one thing that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney harped on after last season, it was that his team wasn’t good enough around D.J. Uiagalelei.

Of course, the junior quarterback wasn’t blameless with his performance in his first full season as a starter, but Swinney was pretty clear that Clemson’s supporting cast was going to need to be better, in order for Uiagalelei to elevate his level of play.

Swinney was asked following Clemson’s 41-10 win over Georgia Tech if he saw what he was hoping for on Monday night in Atlanta. 

“Absolutely. Blake Miller, he had a couple of miscues,” Swinney said. “He got beat inside one time. Just footwork. Some things, but man, a true freshman out there getting his first snaps in college.

“I saw what I needed to see. Again, (Jake Briningstool), critical play. Big plays by (Davis Allen). We’re a lot better around him for sure, and that makes him better. Then, if he’ll continue to improve on the things that he needs to improve on from last year, then we’ll be better overall.”

Some plays that were made during Monday’s contest were ones that Clemson wouldn’t have made and didn’t make last year. With Uiagalelei in particular, what did Swinney see from him during Monday’s game that he wasn’t consistently able to do during the season before?

“He didn’t make a bad play worse,” Swinney said. “Took care of the ball outside the one play and put the ball on the money, and I thought he pushed through the adversity.”

Plays like when he lateralled the ball to Will Shipley, while he was going down late in the third quarter.

“That’s a play we didn’t make last year,” he said. “We didn’t make that play. I think about the N.C. State game. Clemson fans remember that. You remember that? He kind of ran and flipped that thing to Shipley, and Shipley dropped it. He probably would have gone 60 yards.

We didn’t make some of those plays. Then, again, just I think just his strength, his grit, and just where he is physically. Just finding a way, man. He has some creativity to him. That was a big play. I thought that was a huge, huge play. Downhill run by Shipley to go get it.

“Those are the plays you got to make. That’s football. I mean, that’s the type of ball plays that you have to make to be a good offense. It’s not always going to go according to the script. You’ve got to make plays. Sometimes when maybe it’s not as clean or it’s not there. I loved how we were able to do that down the stretch.”

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

ESPN analyst picks Clemson player as dark horse Heisman candidate

ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy picked a Clemson player to be in the conversation for the Heisman trophy this season during College Football Live. Who was McElroy’s dark horse candidate to win the Heisman? “I think this is a great pick. I …

ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy picked a Clemson player to be in the conversation for the Heisman trophy this season during College Football Live.

Who was McElroy’s dark horse candidate to win the Heisman?

“I think this is a great pick. I feel good about it,” said the former University of Alabama starting quarterback. “I am going with Will Shipley from Clemson, the running back who I think when you look at what Clemson became as the season went along last year, they started to realize, look D.J. Uiagalelei, he’s not Trevor Lawrence. He’s not Deshaun Watson. He’s not going to be able to carry us with his arm like our previous quarterbacks have.

“We have got to run the football. So let’s get back to the ground and pound. We are going to play great defense. Let’s feed this talented running back and when you think of what Will Shipley can do in the passing game he reminds me a little bit of Christian McCaffrey.”

The ESPN analyst believes Clemson will return to being an elite team this season.

“Couple that with in order to win the Heisman trophy you have to be in the College Football Playoff conversation and I expect a bounceback performance from Clemson,” McElroy said. “I expect them to win the ACC and get to the College Football Playoff. Him being their best player gives him a real chance at it.”

Swinney ‘excited’ about bulked-up Klubnik, ‘very similar’ to Watson

The transition to the next level is seemingly a lot easier for those that come from big-time high school football programs. That logic can be applied to Clemson’s true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik, who has been in Tiger Town for two months now …

The transition to the next level is seemingly a lot easier for those that come from big-time high school football programs.

That logic can be applied to Clemson’s true freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik, who has been in Tiger Town for two months now and has not only bulked up but has impressed his head coach every step of the way.

Following the Tigers’ fifth spring practice on Wednesday, Swinney was asked during his media availability where Klubnik is at this stage in terms of picking up the playbook, compared to the likes of Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence and D.J. Uiagalelei.

“Rinse and repeat,” Swinney said. “Same type of deal. Very, very sharp. He’s getting a ton of work with the twos and he’s really responded well. He’s just a natural. The same thing, he’s everything we thought he was. He has put on some weight since he got here, bulked up.”

Swinney estimates that Klubnik is already weighing close to 190-pounds. The goal is to get Klubnik at or around 200 by the time August rolls around.

“Very similar to Deshaun,” Swinney said. “If you took a picture of Deshaun Watson and in January when he got here and you put them side by side, they’re like clones…I’m excited about where he is and how he’s responded has been very good.”

Clemson’s head coach has compared Klubnik to Watson coming in, time and time again. That comparison isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. They’re very similar physically and their trajectory appears to be similar, although Waston came in behind Cole Stoudt, while Klubnik has come in behind Uiagalelei.

Swinney raved about how having Klubnik come in behind an established starter like Uiagalelei, will only further help his transition to college. While they’re not the same physically, they do have similar backgrounds prior to their time at Clemson.

Both Uiagalelei and Klubnik came from big-time high school football programs — St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif) and Westlake (Texas) — with a lot of expectations on their shoulders at a very young age.

“It’s great, just like it was great to have Trevor when DJ rolled in here, to allow you to kind of breathe a little bit, ” Swinney said. “It’s been the same. 

“That’s just how he’s wired. You can’t give him enough. He’s just like a German Shepard, like ‘Where do I go next? Let’s go.’ He’s ready to go all the time…He’s just a very eager guy and he applies that to everything he does, whether that’s school, playing ping pong, dining hall, just the meetings. He’s a very engaged kid, super talented, but very very engaged. He just has an unbelievable foundation to him, just like DJ.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Streeter gives the latest on Uiagalelei’s offseason rehab

During Clemson Football’s National Signing Day show on Wednesday from the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex, Brandon Streeter joined Clemson director of broadcasting Don Munson and shared the latest on the injury status of D.J. Uiagalelei and his …

During Clemson Football’s National Signing Day show on Wednesday from the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex, Brandon Streeter joined Clemson director of broadcasting Don Munson and shared the latest on the injury status of D.J. Uiagalelei and his subsequent rehab.

Clemson’s starting quarterback sustained a sprained knee in the first half against Louisville on Nov. 6, 2021. He then sported a bulky brace for the Tigers’ remaining three regular-season games.

Additionally, he had a splint on the index finger of his throwing hand. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said last month that Uiagalelei was dealing with “a tendon thing in there that he’s got to keep taped up.”

“The anticipation right now is that he’s gonna be healthy and he is,” Streeter said. “He’s getting better and better. I can’t say he’s 100%, but I think his knee is getting back to close to normal. And he is working his tail off. That guy, I’ve met with him a couple of times, and that guy, he’s fired up about getting going and coming out with a fresh start and getting healthy. 

“He’s just got a different mindset. Like I said earlier, this team learned a lot of lessons this last year. He’s one of them. He’s one of the guys that learned a lot of lessons, some good lessons and some lessons that he’s got to continue to grow from. I think that he’s willing to do that. I know he’s gonna put the work in.”

Streeter said that one thing he talked about with Uiagalelei was getting his weight down this offseason, so he could maneuver a little bit better going forward. According to Streeter, Uiagalelei has already lost 10 pounds.

“He’s never had any issues with working hard,” Streeter said. “I’m excited about his future and I’m excited about his response to what happened this past year. I’m anxious to watch him this spring and see how he does.”

Munson indicated that he believes 2022 will be a response year for Uiagalelei.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Streeter said. “He’s always responded the right way. He’s never been a guy that has pointed fingers or whatever. He’s always taken the blame and just continues to work. Other people might be questioning him, but this guy right here has zero question about what he’s gonna do to move forward and how he’s gonna continue to improve.

“And, he’s gonna be a huge piece of this puzzle as we go into the 2022 offseason and season. He’s a better young man than he is a player and he’s a tremendous player.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Swinney: ‘Heart of a champion’ Uiagalelei never ‘flinched’ all season long

ORLANDO, Fla. – The development of a quarterback is never linear. That goes without saying. It was ever so apparent in the play of D.J. Uiagalelei this season. And while the quarterback was up and down with his play and sometimes erratic, he often …

ORLANDO, Fla. — The development of a quarterback is never linear. That goes without saying.

It was ever so apparent in the play of D.J. Uiagalelei this season. And while the quarterback was up and down with his play and sometimes erratic, he often found ways to put Clemson in a position to win. That’s what he did in Wednesday’s Cheez-It Bowl.

Fighting through an injured knee and down seven scholarship wide receivers — Justyn Ross, Brannon Spector, Will Taylor, Ajou Ajou, E.J. Williams and Frank Ladson, Jr. — Uiagalelei found a way. Again.

His starting receivers during Wednesday’s 20-13 win over Iowa State? Will Swinney and two true freshmen — Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins. Yes, he did get Joseph Ngata and Troy Stellato back in the fold, but neither was a factor.

“DJ, what he’s been through this year is going to make him better,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said postgame. “His last four or five weeks, he’s been at his best. He hasn’t complained one time. Seven scholarship receivers. Who can survive that? Who can survive seven scholarship receivers out three games in a row and just keep finding a way? This guy here. He’s got the heart of a champion, unbelievable character and just really, really proud of him.”

Swinney insisted that Clemson’s play around Uiagalelei earlier this season wasn’t good enough. It’s part of the reason why the Tigers were 2-2 and starring a lost season in the face. As we now know, the team rallied around Uiagalelei and won 8 of its last 9 games.

“We weren’t very good around him early in the season,” Swinney said. “Because of that, his mistakes as a young player were magnified. Every young player at quarterback I have had has made mistakes, but we weren’t quite as food around him as we were those other guys.”

“But, his process has been sped up because of that,” Swinney added. “His process of becoming a leader, his maturation, his preparation, his attention, everything, man. I am just really proud of where he is and how he led and how he never flinched. He’s been in a skillet, in a frying pan all season long. And I’ve been right there with him, and he hasn’t flinched. He’s a winner. Just appreciate his leadership.”

Uiagalelei finished Clemson’s Cheez-It Bowl win completing 21-of-32 passes for 187 yards with an interception. It surely wasn’t all pretty, especially the interception, but he found a way to lead Clemson to its 11th straight 10-win season.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!