DJ Uiagalelei addresses decision on NFL draft opportunity, college return

DJ Uiagalelei had an opportunity to go to the NFL Draft in 2024, but the quarterback opted for the transfer portal and ended up at Florida State.

So one more year of college and one last chance at some fine tuned development before turning pro. He picked a good situation under Mike Norvell.

But for DJU, he didn’t even know what he was going to do until the end of last season, after a successful one with Oregon State.

“For me, man, I was just worried about the season last year,” Uiagalelei said. “Yeah, obviously it was always a thought, maybe I go to the draft or I come back for another year. I had no clue until after the last game that we thought about it. I thought the best thing for me was to be able to hit the portal and play another year in college. So that was my thought on that last year.” 

Last season, his lone with the Beavers, Uiagalelei had 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 57.1% completion percentage.

“I think things I want to continue to keep working on,” Uiagalelei said. “I feel like continuing to keep improving my completion percentage. I think turnover ratio is obviously (another thing) that I can control myself, and I feel like continuing to keep growing my knowledge of the game of football and continue just playing under coach Norvell. 

“I think he’s going to do a lot of those things for me, and I think, being able to learn from him … and I just want to continue to keep getting better and learn from (this staff).”

Overall Uiagalelei, with Clemson and Oregon State, has 8,319 yards, 57 touchdowns, 24 interceptions and a 59.1% completion percentage.

“I think Coach Norvell. I think what he stands for as a man. What he stands for as a person. Also as a coach. I think the testimony of what he’s done,” Uiagalelei said. “Being able to develop quarterbacks and be able the way he’s transformed Florida State back to where everyone knows what Florida State’s always been. That powerhouse program. Program with incredible athletes, incredible coaching staff. And a rich tradition of winning and a rich tradition of a great fan base. So, for me, that was the main thing.”

As a member of the Class of 2020, Uiagalelei was a five-star recruit out of Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 3 overall prospect in the state, the No. 2 quarterback in the class and the No. 12 overall prospect in the class.