DJ Uiagalelei assesses his play against Georgia

D.J. Uiagalelei’s first game as the unquestioned starter of the Clemson Tigers didn’t go according to plan. In his team’s loss against the Georgia Bulldogs, his pick-six ended up being the difference. 

Following the game, Uiagalelei’s confidence was unshaken. Still, he recognized that he needs to execute better if his team is going to reach their potential.

“I felt confident,” said Uiagalelei. “I just gotta go out there and execute. 

“I didn’t execute the game plan to what I needed to do. I didn’t make the throws when I needed to. I took a couple sacks when I should’ve thrown the ball away. Simple stuff like that. 

“I just gotta be able to grow from that. Can’t make those mistakes.”

Last night, Uiagalelei completed 19 of 37 passes, accumulating 187 yards and one interception. Additionally, he was sacked by Georgia a whipping seven times.

Moreover, Uiagalelei was asked if he felt flustered by the ferocity of Georgia’s defense.

“I don’t think I felt flustered. I just gotta make the play,” he said. “Knew what the read was, didn’t throw it. Held onto the ball, and ended up taking a couple sacks.”

Luckily for Uiagalelei, he won’t face a defense like Georgia’s for the rest of the 2021 season. As it stands today, Clemson won’t play another ranked team until the ACC Championship Game.

“I’ve gotta play better.”

While Uiagalelei wasn’t the only reason for Clemson’s opening night loss, he’s shouldering a brunt of the blame for it. Fair or not, he’s taking responsibility.

“I think I just missed throws,” Uiagalelei said after falling to 1-2 as a starter during his college career. “I mean I’ve gotta play better. I think it’s as simple as that. Coach [Dabo] Swinney said in these big games the best players, they’ve gotta play well. I didn’t play well tonight. It’s as simple as that. I’ve gotta get better.”

While Uiagalelei had a rough first half, his second half was promising. Clemson still had trouble moving the football, but their quarterback didn’t have much help.

Additionally, Uiagalelei protected his offensive teammates at the end of the day.

“I made the offensive line look bad, but in real life that was on me. The offensive line played great. Receivers played great. I’ve just gotta play better,” he said.

“The running backs played great, they protected me very well. A lot of the sacks were on me. The offensive line, hats off to them, they had an amazing ballgame. All five of those guys. They protected me very well. I’ve just gotta get rid of the ball. It’s as simple as that.”

While D.J. Uiagalelei’s leadership abilities were on display following Clemson’s loss, his football skills will be on display the rest of the season.