The Rise and Fall of DJ Uiagalelei

By Jason Bolton May 21, 2025 12:23

DJ Uiagalelei’s football journey is a story of dazzling promise, relentless scrutiny, and the search for the right fit—a modern saga of college football’s pressures and possibilities. Once hailed as the next great quarterback at Clemson, Uiagalelei’s career has been defined as much by his resilience in the face of adversity as by his undeniable physical gifts.

Meteoric Rise: From High School Phenom to Clemson Star

Uiagalelei’s ascent began at St. John Bosco High School in California, where he threw for 4,225 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior, earning USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year honors. His high school coach, Steven Lo, recalls, “The ball blew my bone apart. It felt like someone shot my hand,” after catching one of DJ’s passes, a testament to his “jaw-dropping” arm strength. Rated a five-star recruit, Uiagalelei committed to Clemson, where expectations soared.

His college debut was electric. In 2020, filling in for Trevor Lawrence, Uiagalelei led Clemson to a comeback win over Boston College and threw for 439 yards against Notre Dame. “He could do a three-step drop and then launch that thing 80, 85 yards,” said former teammate Colby Bowman. Uiagalelei finished his freshman season with 914 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions, completing 67 percent of his passes.

Clemson: Promise Meets Pressure

Taking over as Clemson’s starter in 2021, Uiagalelei faced immense pressure. The Tigers entered the season ranked No. 3, and DJ signed endorsement deals with Dr. Pepper and Bojangles. But the season opener against Georgia was a struggle: 19-for-37, 178 yards, and a critical pick-six in a 10–3 loss. His sophomore year ended with 2,246 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions—a 55.6% completion rate. “High school’s great, top player in the country, five-star everything. There was no adversity until my sophomore year came around,” Uiagalelei admitted.

He rebounded in 2022, throwing for 2,521 yards and 22 touchdowns with a 61.9% completion rate, but was ultimately benched for freshman Cade Klubnik during the ACC Championship Game. The writing was on the wall, and Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal.

Redemption and Reinvention: Oregon State and Florida State

At Oregon State in 2023, Uiagalelei found new life, posting career highs with 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a 145.0 passer rating. “It’s all you want as a player… the coaching staff to believe in you, trust you to be able to go out there and perform,” he reflected, contrasting his experience with his final days at Clemson. Yet, after his coach left for Michigan State, Uiagalelei transferred again—this time to Florida State.

His stint at FSU was marred by injury and inconsistency: 1,065 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions in five starts before a hand injury sidelined him. Still, those around him saw growth. “He’s like high school DJ,” said his mother, noting his renewed energy and focus. Coach Mike Norvell praised his intensity: “How intense he is… yelling ‘good morning!’ 24/7,” Uiagalelei laughed.

Legacy: A Career of Highs, Lows, and Lessons

Across three schools, Uiagalelei amassed 9,384 passing yards, 61 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions, completing 58.5% of his passes. He declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance. As former Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said, “I love DJ. ... I’m pulling for him to do great things. I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t”.

Uiagalelei’s rise and fall is not simply a cautionary tale, but a testament to the complexity of talent, fit, and expectation in modern college football—a journey marked by flashes of brilliance and the quiet strength to start over, again and again.