DJ Uiagalelei breaks down process of getting used to new teammates at Florida State
If you would have asked Florida State Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei where he would be right now in his career when making it to the college ranks, playing for a heated Clemson Tigers rival would probably not have been on the bingo card. However, it’s been five years since the former five-star recruit from the 2020 class started his journey, and a lot has changed since then.
Uiagalelei is on his third team after transferring for the second time in his collegiate career from Oregon State to Florida State. That means he has to get used to a whole new environment, set of coaches, and teammates. And that is no easy task. Recently, the Florida State star quarterback had a sit-down chat with On3’s college football expert, Andy Staples, and detailed his process for getting familiar with things at Florida State and his new teammates.
“I think the biggest thing is, winning doesn’t come easy. Like Florida State was 13-0 last year until they played Georgia; that’s not easy,” said Uiagalelei. “And I think a lot of people take for granted how hard winning is. Winning a game of football is hard. There’s a lot that goes into it, from the preparation to the standpoint of everyone has to be on the right page. And that starts in January.”
No matter where he is gone, Uiagalelei has been synonymous with winning. Unfortunately, he has failed to deliver a championship at his two previous stops at Clemson and Oregon State. But winning a national championship is not just a one-man job, which is why the fifth-year senior joined Mike Norvell at Florida State in hopes of capturing a title in his final collegiate season.
“For me, the biggest thing is you got to be able to put the work in starting now,” he said. “So coming in, for me, is to be able to understand the offense first and foremost, to be able to be a great teammate, be a great teammate to the quarterbacks, to everyone here on the staff, to all the players, to everyone in this building.
“I think you gotta be able to instill trust in all your players, and they have to be able to trust you; that you go do the right things at the right times. That you’re not just a guy that’s just like, ‘I just wanted to jump on the ship.’ I wanted to bring some type of talent to this or whatever that is. If it’s talent, the way you work, the way you prepare, the way you come out there on the field and the way that you show yourself as an example to the program.”
Uiagalelei appears to have a solid plan for ingratiating himself into the program and endearing himself to his teammates. And if he executes it successfully, it could help pave the way for the Seminoles to be the 2024 national champions.