Tag: D.J. Uiagalelei

Uiagalelei’s quiet confidence has his teammates following his lead

When D.J. Uiagalelei rolled into town last year, he had a very unique presence to him. He had a quiet confidence about him, a confidence that was very noticeable to his teammates. That confidence spilled over into the season, especially when he was …

When D.J. Uiagalelei rolled into town last year, he had a very unique presence to him. He had a quiet confidence about him, a confidence that was very noticeable to his teammates.

That confidence spilled over into the season, especially when he was forced into action following Trevor Lawrence’s positive test for COVID-19, just two days prior to the Boston College game. Uiagalelei shined in leading Clemson to its largest comeback ever at Death Valley.

The Tigers trailed by 18 points (28-10) late in the second quarter, but the true freshman never faltered, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 30-of-41 passes with no interceptions. He also ran 30 yards for a touchdown in a 34-28 victory.

The next week at No. 4 Notre Dame, with all of America watching, he threw for more yards (439) than any player ever has against the Irish. He completed 29-of-44 passes, while throwing two more touchdowns and running for another, as he almost pulled off another come-from-behind victory.

Uiagalelei is now taking those experiences and is carrying them over to this season where he is expected to be the leader of a Clemson team that is looking for its seventh straight ACC Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff.

“Now, obviously, he has very quiet demeanor, but he has become more of a vocal guy in the huddle,” guard/center Matt Bockhorst said. “He knows he is kind of the guy everyone looks towards to really run the show at the end of the day. So, he has done a great job, and I know he is getting better and better with his decision making, getting the ball out quick and all of that stuff. So, I know D.J. has had a really good camp.”

Bockhorst does not want anyone to have the wrong idea. The senior offensive lineman says Uiagalelei’s assertiveness this year is not forced by any means.

“You never want to be fabricated as a leader or be someone that you are not. I totally get that,” Bockhorst said. “Some guys, just by nature, are not vocal. But I think with him, it is kind of him interjecting in his own way and kind of giving those little notes of encouragement and kind of giving those little tips and keys before we go out to run on the field.

“I do not mean he has become a rah-rah guy. I don’t mean that when I say he has become more vocal. But more so, just being confident in himself and his command of the offense and his command of the guys who are around him. So, that is kind of more what I mean with his vocal leadership and his development.”

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ESPN ranks three Tigers among college football’s most important players

Three Clemson players are ranked among the most important college football players for the 2021 season by ESPN. In an ESPN+ article (subscription required), Bill Connelly ranked college football’s 25 most important players based on who has the …

Three Clemson players are ranked among the most important college football players for the 2021 season by ESPN.

In an ESPN+ article (subscription required), Bill Connelly ranked college football’s 25 most important players based on who has the potential to most dramatically impact the season and national title hunt.

Sophomore D.J. Uiagalelei is ranked as the No. 4 player and listed under the category of “new starting quarterbacks for potential contenders.”

“Uiagalelei shined in a two-week starting audition last season, completing 69% of his passes with no picks and, at 250-pounds, showing decent short-yardage rushing potential as well,” Connelly wrote. “But now the training wheels are off. He not only has to look the part of a CFP quarterback, he has to do so (a) without security blanket Travis Etienne and (b) from the start of the season: The Tigers’ toughest regular season game is against Georgia in Charlotte in Week 1.”

Meanwhile, sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is ranked No. 10 on ESPN’s list as one of the “key defenders with a possible leap in them,” and redshirt junior wide receiver Justyn Ross is ranked No. 14 and listed among the players ESPN tabs as “key supporting cast members.”

Senior running back Lyn-J Dixon is also listed under the same category as Ross as one of the “other candidates,” and sophomore defensive end Myles Murphy is listed among the other candidates in Bresee’s category.

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

D.J. Uiagalelei saves best for last in Clemson’s final scrimmage

D.J. Uiagalelei hasn’t had what Clemson coach Dabo Swinney would categorize as a bad day during fall camp. It’s just that Thursday was better than the rest for the Tigers’ quarterback. “He’s been kind of steadily getting better as camp has gone on, …

D.J. Uiagalelei hasn’t had what Clemson coach Dabo Swinney would categorize as a bad day during fall camp. It’s just that Thursday was better than the rest for the Tigers’ quarterback.

“He’s been kind of steadily getting better as camp has gone on, and I thought he had his best day today,” Swinney said.

Uiagalelei saved his best for last with Clemson wrapping up fall camp with its second and final scrimmage. As the sophomore gets set to take over the reins of the Tigers’ offense from No. 1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence, Swinney has praised Uiagalelei throughout the last 16 days with the way he’s handled his preparation, particularly given everything he’s seen from the other side of the ball.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables has purposefully dialed up just about every alignment up front and blitz on the back end in an effort to keep Uiagalelei from being caught off guard by anything he might see from opponents starting Sept. 4 when Clemson opens its season against Georgia in Charlotte.

If there’s a complaint Swinney has had with his young signal caller during camp, it’s been Uiagalelei’s tendency to get lackadaisical with some of his fundamentals and mechanics. On Thursday, that wasn’t an issue.

In fact, there wasn’t much Swinney didn’t like about the way Uiagalelei performed on a day when the offense turned in a crisper performance than the Tigers’ first scrimmage over the weekend. The group was sharper from a procedural standpoint, and Swinney said there were a number of explosive plays with Uiagalelei giving his receivers opportunities for more.

“Just command of everything that he’s doing,” Swinney said. “Fundamentally, I thought he was his best today. Made the right decisions. Made some critical plays in critical times. Should’ve had a couple of more that we dropped that were put right on the money. But very clean. Very clean with his exchanges, clean with his footwork and made all the calls right.”

Swinney said the 6-foot-5, 247-pounder also made some plays with his legs, though Swinney didn’t reveal whether they were designed runs or off script. Swinney said there weren’t many aspects of the game where Uiagalelei didn’t seem to be locked in, which is no small detail given the role he’s stepping into.

Uiagalelei played in 10 games as a true freshman last season and got a pair of surprise starts against Boston College and Notre Dame after COVID-19 protocols sidelined Lawrence for a couple of games during the regular season. Uiagalelei completed nearly 67% of his passes for 914 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions, four of those touchdowns coming in his two starts.

Uiagalelei has seemingly picked up where he left off as he embarks on his first season as the Tigers’ full-time signal caller. He’s preparing like it, too.

“I just thought he had a game-like mentality today,” Swinney said. “I could see him really pushing himself to make every rep a game rep, and it was good to see.”

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

Top Cali DB can see Swinney, Clemson ‘playing a big role’ in his recruitment

One top defensive back prospect firmly on Clemson’s future recruiting radar is Peyton Woodyard, who hails from a California high school powerhouse that has become connected to the Tigers. Woodyard, a talented and versatile 2024 recruit from St. John …

One top defensive back prospect firmly on Clemson’s future recruiting radar is Peyton Woodyard, who hails from a California high school powerhouse that has become connected to the Tigers.

Woodyard, a talented and versatile 2024 recruit from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) – the same school that produced Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and wide receiver Beaux Collins – traveled to Tiger Town this summer to tour the campus and facilities and compete at the Dabo Swinney Camp.

“Obviously the facilities are nice,” Woodyard said to The Clemson Insider recently, reflecting on the visit. “But definitely the coaching staff and how friendly and welcoming everyone was [stood out]. And Dabo Swinney, just the whole way he runs things over there, he runs a great team and it’s a great program you definitely want to be a part of when you’re at Clemson.”

While on campus, Woodyard spent plenty of time around the Tigers’ staff – primarily safeties coach Mickey Conn, cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and defensive coordinator Brent Venables – and impressed them with his camp performance.

The 6-foot-2, 188-pound rising sophomore is classified as a safety by 247Sports but prides himself on being a complete DB that can play all over the secondary from slot corner to free safety.

“They definitely like the way I play, how fast I am, my size and speed,” Woodyard said of the Tigers. “They were able to watch me line up at corner and inside at the slot position and guard the slot. They pretty much said if I wasn’t an incoming sophomore, I would have an offer there, and that’s why I’m really trying to show out this season and go head back up to Clemson.”

Obviously, playing at St. John Bosco, Woodyard is connected to the Uiagalelei family. He is friends with D.J.’s younger brother, 2023 five-star prospect Matayo Uiagalelei, and has had some opportunities to speak with D.J. in the past. Woodyard conversed with them when he visited Clemson in June.

As Woodyard alluded to, the Tigers refrain from offering sophomores, per Swinney’s policy. But he is certainly a candidate for an offer from Clemson in the future and envisions the Tigers being a major factor in his recruitment moving forward.

“It would mean a lot to me,” he said of a potential Clemson offer, “and I could see Clemson, Dabo playing a big role in my recruitment process. It’d just be a great offer to have.”

Woodyard hopes to return to Clemson next spring or summer. Along with Clemson, he visited Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Southern Cal and UCLA this summer.

Woodyard’s list of more than a dozen offers includes Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Southern Cal among others.

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

Clemson’s marquee opener brings ‘different focus’ to camp

Baylon Spector downplayed his answer. As much as he could, at least. Like any team, Clemson’s senior linebacker acknowledged the fact that winning the opener is one of the Tigers’ goals every season. Clemson wants to prepare for every opponent the …

Baylon Spector downplayed his answer. As much as he could, at least.

Like any team, Clemson’s senior linebacker acknowledged the fact that winning the opener is one of the Tigers’ goals every season. Clemson wants to prepare for every opponent the same, he said. 

“But we’re excited for sure,” Spector said.

Truth is, the Tigers’ titanic clash with Georgia on Sept. 4 isn’t just any opener, which is why some players believe it’s helped Clemson keep its collective focus high amid the dog days of fall camp. The number of weeks left before arguably the Tigers’ most important game of the season is quickly dwindling as Clemson approaches the midway point of its final week of camp.

Sure, there’s a certain level of focus and excitement for players at the start of every season regardless of the opponent, but senior Nolan Turner said playing a fellow Power Five team of Georgia’s caliber takes all of that to another level.

“A team and a program like Georgia definitely brings a different mindset and a different focus,” the Tigers’ sixth-year safety said. “It’s something to kind of motivate you through the summer and seeing that picture of what it’s going to look like.”

Not since a 19-13 win at Auburn in 2016 has Clemson started a season against a Power Five opponent, and that Auburn team wasn’t ranked. With Clemson sitting at No. 2 and No. 3 in the preseason coaches and AP polls, respectively, and Georgia ranked no lower than fifth, the Tigers and Bulldogs have a consensus top-5 matchup awaiting them at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

And when it comes to trying to get back to the College Football Playoff, one could easily argue there’s more at stake for Clemson.

Georgia figures to get multiple shots at ranked teams this season, including their annual Jacksonville meeting with Florida, a preseason top-15 team. Meanwhile, only two other ACC teams, Miami and North Carolina, appeared in the preseason polls, and Clemson wouldn’t play either one until a potential matchup in the ACC championship game.

Maybe it changes depending on the kind of seasons teams like N.C. State (14 votes in the preseason AP poll) and Boston College (five votes) end up having. But, for now, Georgia is the only ranked team on Clemson’s schedule. 

Beat Georgia, and Clemson has a marquee win right off the bat that it can keep in its back pocket. Lose, and the Tigers likely have no margin for error the rest of the way when it comes to trying to reach the CFP for the seventh straight year.

Whether it’s producing a sharper focus, more excitement or a combination of the two, the Tigers know the start that’s looming is different.

“I think, for the most part, we’re just all excited just to be able to play our first game,” quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei said. “Then knowing we have a quality opponent in Georgia, a high-caliber team, I think that just makes it that much more fun going through fall camp.”

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

Podcast: Backup quarterback situation starting to take shape

Clemson’s Football team is right in the heart of preseason camp. Today, Levon Kirkland and myself have an interview with quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. We also discuss Uiagalelei’s new deal with Dr Pepper and what it means for the Tigers’ QB. We also …

Clemson’s Football team is right in the heart of preseason camp. Today, Levon Kirkland and myself have an interview with quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei.

We also discuss Uiagalelei’s new deal with Dr Pepper and what it means for the Tigers’ QB. We also analyze the backup quarterback situation and have the latest on Taisun Phommachanh and where he is at in his recovery from a torn Achilles in the spring.

Also, it appears the Tigers have a new playmaker at wide receiver. We discuss these things and much more in today’s podcast.

You can listen to today’s podcast here (LINK), or listen to it and download it where you listen to all of your podcast at either Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify.

Uiagalelei charting his own path

D.J. Uiagalelei does not want to be Trevor Lawrence and that’s okay. Lawrence’s list of accomplishments at Clemson runs long from winning a national championship as a freshman to his first overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. But Uiagalelei …

D.J. Uiagalelei does not want to be Trevor Lawrence and that’s okay.

Lawrence’s list of accomplishments at Clemson runs long from winning a national championship as a freshman to his first overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. But Uiagalelei differs from Lawrence in personality, style and skillset which does not bother the sophomore signal caller.

When a reporter asked Uiagalelei whether it is fair for fans and media members to compare him to Lawrence the sophomore quarterback gave Lawrence credit for his accomplishments but made it clear he is his own man.

“Shoot, Trevor Lawrence is probably the best quarterback to ever play college football. I think everyone should give their respect to Trevor, I’m just D.J,” Uiagalelei said after Monday’s practice during fall camp. “I don’t think there’s anything that should be compared Trevor is Trevor and I’m D.J.”

Uiagalelei falls into a legacy of great quarterback play at Clemson and stepped onto campus with lofty expectations just like his predecessor. Both entered college as five-star recruits with plenty of hype for their ability to win and change games at the high school level.

Physically their makeup differs distinctly Uiagalelei boasts a stout frame at 6-foot-4 250-pounds while Lawrence stood tall and thin at 6-foot-6 220-pounds.

The two quarterbacks also hail from opposite sides of the country with different culture. Uiagalelei grew up in Southern California surrounded by stardom while Lawrence spent his formative years in the small-town environment of North Georgia.

“We are just two different people with two different personalities. I think we just come from two different locations,” Uiagalelei said. “He grew up in Georgia and I grew up in California, so we are two different people.”

One thing both Tiger quarterbacks share is a laid-back approach which helps keep the big moments from getting two big.

“I mean we are both laid back, I’m just might listen to a little different music, I may talk a little different than Trevor and stuff like that because he’s Trevor and I’m D.J.,” Uiagalelei said.

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

Uiagalelei to appear in national commercial

It is almost impossible to watch a college football game and not see one of the Dr. Pepper commercials in “Fansville.” Now when those commercials come on they will feature a familiar face. Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is the first and only …

It is almost impossible to watch a college football game and not see one of the Dr. Pepper commercials in “Fansville.” Now when those commercials come on they will feature a familiar face.

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei is the first and only athlete to appear in the Fansville ads this season and believed to be the first student-athlete to appear in a national ad campaign.

The first commercial featuring Uiagalelei premiers on Aug. 23 and the commercials will be featured throughout college football season.

“For me, NIL has been a great opportunity to be able to work with brands, to be able to do stuff like this,” Uiagalelei said in an interview with ESPN.com. “If I was playing college football five years ago, I wouldn’t be able to do this. It’s a great opportunity for people now to be able to build off their brand, make money and work on different partnerships like Dr Pepper. I’m super excited about it.”

The Dr. Pepper deal is the second announced by the Clemson quarterback after he announced a social media advertising deal with Bojangles last month.

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

Fans might recognize Clemson’s newest weapon in 2021

There is a familiar face roaming the Clemson sidelines this year, and it is one that has a smile that stretches from ear to ear. Tajh Boyd has returned to coach at Clemson, working as an offensive analyst helping the quarterbacks on Dabo Swinney’s …

There is a familiar face roaming the Clemson sidelines this year, and it is one that has a smile that stretches from ear to ear.

Tajh Boyd has returned to coach at Clemson, working as an offensive analyst helping the quarterbacks on Dabo Swinney’s staff. Boyd’s return to Clemson could not come at a better time, as for the first time since his departure in 2013, the Tigers have a quarterback that plays with the same style and has the same qualities and features that made Boyd so enduring to Clemson fans.

D.J. Uiagalelei is a big quarterback. When he checked into camp last week, Uiagalelei checked in at 6-foot-4, 247 pounds. He is by far the biggest quarterback Clemson has ever had.

Boyd was not even close to Uiagalelei’s size, but he was big for a college quarterback. During his sophomore season, Boyd played around 235 pounds, garnering him the nickname “Fat Boy” by his teammates.

But by his junior season, Boyd slimmed down to about 225 pounds and became the Tigers’ main weapon, not just in the passing game, but in the run game. He became the main in short yardage situations and inside the 10-yard line.

When it is was third-and-short, Boyd was almost unstoppable with the quarterback power, something the Clemson offense has not run really since. That is going to change this year.

Clemson’s run-spread attack was designed for a quarterback like Uiagalelei. It gained its popularity when Cam Newton ran Guz Malzahn’s offense all the way to a Heisman Trophy and national championship at Auburn in 2010.

When Chad Morris brought his friend’s offense to Clemson in 2011, Boyd was a perfect fit, as he became the ACC’s second all-time leader in passing yards (11,904) and the league’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (107) and touchdown responsibilities (133).

Boyd is still the only ACC quarterback in history to throw for more than 100 touchdowns in his college career.

“It is so fun to have Tajh back because (Uiagalelei) reminds me a lot of Tajh,” Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “You think about Tajh and Tajh had a huge arm. There has been Deshaun [Watson] and there has been Trevor [Lawrence], but it started with Tajh and the big arm and then his running style. I think there are similarities with their running styles, and it was the same back then.”

Boyd never really put up the big numbers running the ball that Woody Dantzler, Watson or Steve Fuller did in their Clemson careers, but he was effective in a different way. He set the Clemson record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 26 in his career and was so dominate in short-yardage situations that he kept defenses off-balance.

“He was that guy that neutralized the defense,” said Elliott, who was the running backs coach at Clemson during the Boyd era. “Whenever you try to get a number, and obviously, you want to hand the ball to the backs and tell those guys to carry the load. But whenever you needed to surprise the defense or balance it out to create the numbers you got to have, you have to have that quarterback run game.

“Then there are certain components of our RPO and our run game that the quarterback has to make us right when pulling the ball and we have been fortunate to have guys that can go the distance. I think D.J. is potentially one of those guys in the long run, but we just have to see what he is comfortable with and where he is at. As this offense creates its identity, we will see how the quarterback run fits into that identity.”

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

Pressure for Trevor Lawrence’s successor? D.J. Uiagalelei isn’t feeling it

D.J. Uiagalelei isn’t filling just anybody’s shoes as the new triggerman for Clemson’s offense. His predecessor at quarterback was one of the best the program has ever seen. Trevor Lawrence turned out to be the three-year player most expected him to …

D.J. Uiagalelei isn’t filling just anybody’s shoes as the new triggerman for Clemson’s offense.

His predecessor at quarterback was one of the best the program has ever seen. Trevor Lawrence turned out to be the three-year player most expected him to be at the collegiate level, going 34-2 as a starter while leading the Tigers to three ACC championships, the same number of College Football Playoff appearances and a national championship before becoming Clemson’s first-ever No. 1 overall draft pick earlier this year.

Following that could easily be a daunting task for any quarterback. And at a program like Clemson, where six straight CFP appearances has set a standard of being elite, it could turn into a situation where the next guy presses and tries to do too much in an effort to help the program maintain that level of success.

Yet that’s not something Uiagalelei’s coaches or teammates are all that worried about when it comes to Lawrence’s successor.

“He’s not really an overwhelmed type of kid,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “He may be, but you don’t see it. He’s like that duck on a pond. He’s like that all the time. I don’t worry about him.”

Part of Swinney’s confidence in his sophomore signal caller stems from the fact that, much like Lawrence dealt with before he arrived at Clemson, Uiagalelei knows a thing or two about great expectations. Uiagalelei may not have been the nation’s top recruit coming out of high school like Lawrence, but he wasn’t far behind.

Uiagalelei was rated the No. 10 prospect nationally and the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the 2020 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. A California native, he played his high school ball in the glow of one of the country’s largest media markets at St. John Bosco in suburban Los Angeles.

“He’s a very confident kid and has been for a long time,” Swinney said. “A lot like Trevor, he’s been in the spotlight for a long time. The big stage of high school football, TV, expectations. I mean, he’s been there.”

And thanks to what turned out to be a blessing in disguise in terms of Uiagalelei’s development, that includes the collegiate level, too.

Uiagalelei was forced into the starting lineup when COVID-19 protocols kept Lawrence out of games against Boston College and Notre Dame during the regular season. As impressive as it was for Uiagalelei to help the Tigers rally from an 18-point deficit in a 34-28 home win over the Eagles, he put himself squarely on the national radar with his performance under the bright lights of Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, the following week, throwing for a career-high 423 yards on just 29 completions and accounting for three scores in a 47-40 overtime loss.

“I also have some confidence in what I saw at Notre Dame last year,” Swinney said with a smile.

In the 10 games he played last season, Uiagalelei threw five touchdowns and no interceptions. His performance, particularly on the bigger stages, seemed to support the working theory his coaches and teammates have that rattling the youngster is much easier said than done.

“Very Cali. Kind of a low-key, chill guy,” senior safety Nolan Turner said. “Definitely always has a composure about him. Just love his poise and kind of what he brings to the offense from a leadership standpoint.”

When he wasn’t playing, Uiagalelei had the benefit of watching and learning from Lawrence for a year. He’s experienced what it’s like to prepare and game plan, and he’s benefited from a year in a college strength and conditioning program, which Swinney said has helped Uiagalelei, who weighed in at 247 pounds at the start of fall camp, improve his strength.

It’s all added to the confidence the Tigers have in a signal caller that’s about as calm and collected as they come.

“His whole mindset is different,” Swinney said. “His maturity, his leadership role, all those things. I’ve seen him assert himself a lot better.

“He’s excited about the opportunity, and we are, too.”

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