Dabo Swinney 'pulling' for DJ Uiagalelei entering first season at Oregon State

Dabo Swinney wishes DJ Uiagalelei the best of luck during his first season at Oregon State. Uiagalelei might not be remembered as one of the best QBs Swinney has ever coached at Clemson, but committing two seasons to him says wonders of the trust and respect the two have for one another.

“I love DJ, nothing changes that. I’m pulling for him to do awesome and I think he will,” Swinney said, via Chapel Fowler. “I’m proud of him. He’s a graduate of Clemson. At the end of the day, it didn’t go as well as you’d hoped, but that’s just life.

“He was 22-6 as a starter, had two double overtime losses on the road, a one-point loss at home. And then a pick-six loss in a one score game against the national champion, so there’s a very small margin for error.

Uiagalelei started for the Tigers for two seasons, originally coming onto the scene as a backup for current Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 2020. Entering the collegiate ranks as a five-star recruit, Uiagalelei went on to pass for 5,681 yards and 36 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. Additionally, he wasn’t shy when it came to scrambling from the pocket having rushed for 913 yards and 15 touchdowns during his Clemson career.

Now that he won’t be under the same type of microscope at Oregon State, Uiagalelei has the opportunity to play more free than ever before.

After transferring, Uiagalelei was critical of how Swinney’s offense hindered his abilities under center. Ever since, Swinney went out and committed to improving his offensive scheme by hiring former TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to the same position for the Tigers.

“I didn’t want to do what I was doing at Clemson. I didn’t really like what we did there scheme-wise,” Uiagalelei said. “It was very basic. It didn’t help me out as a quarterback and play to my strengths. I wanted to go somewhere that would play to my strengths and go somewhere that would develop me for the NFL. Play-action, work under center, throwing the ball deep.”

Uiagalelei will make his Oregon State debut on Sept. 3 on the road against San Jose State. Clemson will play their season opener the next day at Duke for an early ACC matchup. After that, Uiagalelei will have to wait until Sept. 23 to make his Pac-12 Conference debut at Washington State.