Cade Klubnik shares how DJ Uiagalelei helped him at Clemson

Saturday’s matchup between Clemson and Florida State was one of the most highly anticipated games in the ACC heading into the season. It’s a matchup between the last two winners of the conference title and a homecoming for former Tigers’ quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who transferred out of the program and now plays for the Seminoles.

But with Florida State now entering the game with a surprising and disappointing 1-4 record and Uiagalelei ruled out of Saturday’s matchup with a hand injury, the once marquee matchup has lost a little bit of its luster.

There will still be plenty of familiar faces for Uiagalelei to see on Saturday in Tallahassee after spending the first three seasons of his college career with the Clemson program, including Tigers’ quarterback Cade Klubnik. The second-year Tigers starter recently opened up about his relationship with DJU from their two years together as teammates and members of Clemson’s quarterback room.

“Tough to obviously see anybody face an injury like that,” Klubnik said of his former teammate. “I know he was probably, definitely looking forward to playing versus some of us and some of his best friends over here. So obviously tough to hear that for him and excited to see him on Saturday.”

Uiagalelei sat behind Trevor Lawrence and spent a full season as Clemson’s starting quarterback before Klubnik joined the team as a true freshman in 2022. It was a season where Uiagalelei started at quarterback, but Klubnik saw action in eight regular season games heading into the ACC Championship game.

“Like I said, he was a great mentor for me and I learned so much from him while he was here. Just definitely thankful for the person he was whenever he was here and excited to see him,” Klubnik said.

After starting and playing in the first two drives of the 2022 ACC title game, Uiagalelei was benched for the true freshman. Klubnik then generated 309 total yards of offense and two touchdowns in a dominant 39-10 win over North Carolina. That performance led to Uiagalelei transferring to Oregon State, then Florida State and Klubnik still starting at quarterback for the Tigers.

Uiagalelei won’t suit up for the Seminoles in what could have been a revenge game for the fifth-year player. But it sounds like there’s no bad blood between him and Klubnik as Brock Glenn will now start in his place.

Clemson and Florida State kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Doak Campbell Stadium in a game airing on ESPN and streaming on Fubo.