Dabo Swinney makes definitive statement on starting quarterback job

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was clear when talking to reporters about his quarterbacks, stating that junior DJ Uiagalelei will be the starter. Freshman Cade Klubnik will get opportunities when possible, Swinney said, but Uiagalelei has earned the starting job.

That doesn’t mean Uiagalelei has a stranglehold on the Clemson quarterback job, though. While he earned the right to be named the starter going into the season, Uiagalelei will have to keep earning that role as the season progresses.

“DJ’s the starter, for sure,” Swinney said. This is, this is where we are. Obviously he’s gotta go play well. He’s gotta, just like anybody else, you gotta go play well. But, you know, we certainly hope to get Cade as much opportunity as we can. That’s something that we need to do. Just like we wanted to get DJ is as much as we could, as often as we could during Trevor [Lawrence]’s last year. DJ’s going to graduate in December and he’s got big goals and aspirations and he knows what he’s got to do. And so he’s just got to go do it. Hopefully we’ll be able to get Cade as much opportunity as we can. DJ’s the starter, he’s earned that. It’s up to him to continue to earn it every week.”

Uiagalelei struggled to meet lofty expectations in his first year starting in 2021. He threw for more than 2000 yards and the Tigers still won 10 games, but he had too many negative plays that could’ve been avoided.

“He’s not taking sacks,” Swinney said. “The biggest thing last year with him as he took too many sacks and turned the ball over. Those were two things that we could control. There was a lot of those things on him that he could’ve controlled. You’re going to have some missed plays. You’re going to have a tipped ball. You’re going to have guys drop a ball. Those are things aren’t necessarily always on him. Wide receiver runs the wrong route, whatever, but trying to do too much, taking sacks holding the ball and turning it over. Those were things we just can’t have. And that’s, he’s done a really, really good job. He’s taking care of it. He’s creating with his legs. He’s not taking sacks. And he’s, he’s just providing the type of leadership and fire that we need out there.”

Swinney was very complimentary of Uiagalelei’s camp performance so far, singling out his leadership, creativity and willingness to use his legs. All of those factors helped Uiagalelei separate from the other Clemson quarterbacks so far.

“I’d say the biggest thing is just his creativity. He’s made a lot of plays with his legs in camp. He’s made — I’ve told him three, four, five times, ‘Wouldn’t have made that play last year.’ Because he’s just moving so much better,” Swinney said.

“Lots of confidence,” He added. “That’s the number one thing. He’s really done a good job there. Secondly, his leadership. He’s just been awesome. He’s been an awesome leader, not just for the offense but for the team. He’s incredibly well respected. He’s worked really, really hard on his timing, his fundamentals, his rhythm.