Mike Norvell believes DJ Uiagalelei is ‘total package’

When evaluating DJ Uiagalelei as a potential transfer target in the offseason, head coach Mike Norvell didn’t take long to get sold on what the quarterback could bring to his Florida State program.

Speaking with ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy earlier in the summer, Norvell expressed his belief that Uiagalelei brings the array of physical traits, quarterbacking abilities and college football experiences that have forged him into the type of signal caller he wants. And if it all goes to plan, the type of quarterback to succeed Jordan Travis and have the Seminoles right back in the College Football Playoff race.

“I think DJ is the total package,” Norvell said. “You see an elite level talent, skill. Obviously the size. And really he has a lot of great experience. And that experience, some of it’s been really good, some of it’s been challenges that he’s had to overcome and work through but I think when you bring all of that to the person, it starts with him, with his heart. Just a great person, great in the locker room. The guys in that quarterback room, they’re all competing with and for each other. They love him and what he brings and it’s really been fun watching those relationships emerge.”

Uiagalelei, who began his college career at Clemson before transferring to Oregon State and now Florida State, is a different flavor of quarterback than what Norvell and Co. had in Travis.

While Travis is also a bigger quarterback, he is not as big as Uiagalelei and therefore has a bit more speedy and elusiveness to his running style, along with the size to run with power and sustain hits. Uiagalelei, at 6-foot-4 and around 250 pounds, is difficult to bring down and is plenty comfortable mixing things up with a defender as a ball carrier because of that size.

And as they are different running the ball, Travis and Uiagalelei have their own preferences and comforts within the route tree and which concepts Florida State might deploy.

Striking the balance of what Norvell wants the offense to look like, while tailoring it around what his quarterback — and other players — are best and most comfortable at — is the key to maximizing a quarterback the Florida State head coach is clearly high on.

“But he has really embraced all the things we’re asking him to do. Obviously there’s things that we’re going to continue to work to the personnel that we have as an offense. We’ve done that throughout the years,” Norvell said. “… So I think DJ has a chance to have an exceptional year and for him it all starts with the work and he’s really done a wonderful job as he’s come in.”