Tigers Today: D.J. Uiagalelei impressing Dabo Swinney, Clemson coaching staff

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D.J. Uiagalelei impressing Dabo Swinney

D.J. Uiagalelei impressed last month at ACC media days. The sophomore held himself with a calm and mature demeanor.

That has carried over to the football field during fall camp.

Through the opening days of Clemson’s training camp, Uiagalelei has impressed Dabo Swinney and the Tigers coaching staff. He is set to take over for the winningest quarterback in school history — Trevor Lawrence.

But Uiagalelei is not letting the pressure get to him.

“I can just see it in his confidence,” Swinney said after media availability on Monday. “Just his knowledge. He doesn’t make many mistakes. He didn’t make many last year but they’re even fewer this year. The look in his eye. We’re gonna go play some games to make some more quantitative data. But just the day-to-day presence we see and how he handles himself and how he does things in meetings. His attention to detail in the meetings — asking questions — those are the kinds of things you want to see.

“And then he shows up every day ready. He’s already watched the tape, he’s not showing up here watching the tape. … Those are the type of things that really excite you as a coach when you know you’ve got a guy as invested as you are.”

D.J. Uiagalelei will get his third career start on Sept. 4 against Georgia in Charlotte. Early results are showing he is ready to run Clemson’s offense.

Clemson baseball announces signing class

Clemson coach Monte Lee announced the signing of 16 recent high school graduates, two Division I transfers and one junior college transfer to the program on Monday. 

All 19 newcomers are eligible to suit up for the Tigers starting in the 2022 season. Will Taylor, who is also a member of the Tiger football team, was the lone newcomer who was drafted in July. He was selected in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers.

Rising sophomore righthander Mack Anglin is returning to the Tigers in 2022. He was selected in the 13th round by the Washington Nationals in July.

Clemson practice observations from Monday workout

The media was allowed back at practice on Monday as Dabo Swinney opened up at least a portion of practice to the media for the third straight workout.

ClemsonSports.com senior write Matt Connolly was allowed to view six periods of practice, which equaled out to about an hour. 

Freshmen receivers Beaux Collins and Troy Stellato remain in yellow. Collins did participate in some of the practice before jogging off to work on the side. He appears close to being upgraded to at least a non-contact green jersey.

READ MORE: Clemson practice observations from Monday workout

On300 LB Drayk Bowen narrows list to 5 schools

Four-Star linebacker Drayk Bowen of Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean has narrowed his list to five schools – Notre Dame, Clemson, LSU, Indiana and Auburn.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker recently announced his top 12 but that list is now down to five. Bowen cut Tennessee, Virginia Tech, N.C. State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Michigan from his previous list.

Being recruited as both an elite football and baseball player is a vital component in Bowen’s recruitment. He is ranked as one of the top baseball players in the nation.

Bowen discussed each school in his top five with On3.

Counting down

• Clemson vs. Georgia (season opener): 25 days
• Clemson at South Carolina: 109 days