Report: Jonathan Smith names DJ Uiagalelei Oregon State starting QB

The battle for the Oregon State starting quarterback job is over. Jonathan Smith has named Oregon State’s starting quarterback as DJ Uiagalelei for the season opener against San Jose State on Sept. 3, per the Oregonian.

The Beavers are looking to build off of an impressive 2022 season that saw Oregon State finish the year 10-3. Improved QB play could make Oregon State a contender to win the Pac-12 this fall.

Uiagalelei transferred into Oregon State from Clemson this offseason. Uiagalelei was the starting QB for the Tigers each of the past two years.

The California native went 22-6 as a starter at Clemson, leading the Tigers to an 11-3 record in 2022 and a 10-3 mark in 2021. Clemson won the ACC with Uiagalelei at quarterback last season.

During his time with the Tigers, Uiagalelei went 22-6 as a starter. He passed for 5,681 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 15 scores during his time at Clemson.

Uiagalelei was also selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2023 MLB Draft earlier this summer. He was selected with the No. 610 pick, coming in the 20th round.

Uiagalelei did have a Perfect Game profile coming out of high school. He was designated as a right-handed pitcher and has been clocked around 90 miles per hour with his fastball in the past.

We did not see Uiagalelei competitively on the baseball diamond while at Clemson. However, when there was a student home run derby in Feb. 2022, the quarterback took a few swings and according to Monte Lee, one went out of the stadium.

Back to head coach Jonathan Smith — he previously spoke with On3 about what he has seen from Uiagalelei since he arrived on campus.

“Physical talent (is there) and desire to be good,” Smith said. “He’s worked at it. He was in our offices all the time learning the scheme (this spring). We knew there was going to be a learning curve. The system he was coming from to ours is quite a bit different. So we knew that was going to take place in the spring and it did. But where he ended practice 15, just way more comfortable, operating pretty well within the system. Physical tools were there. Great teammate. Smart. So yeah, I think he’s got a chance.”

Fellow QB Ben Gulbranson pushed Uiagalelei for the starting job. He finished with 14 total touchdowns last season, while going 7-1 as the Oregon State starter. This wasn’t an easy decision as both quarterbacks are proven winners at the college level.

“We got to December and we wanted to add a transfer older quarterback to add competition to the room,” Smith previously said. “… And so ideally, when you’re bringing in (someone) to add competition, (you’re looking for) a guy with experience. You’re looking for a guy who can fit our place. And it wasn’t just a bang bang with DJ now. We had multiple conversations, talked to a lot of people, made sure he was interested for the right reasons as well. And I think it was a good fit. 

“Wanted a fresh start, played a bunch of games, wanted to come to our system, which was important, because we’re not throwing it 55 times a game. We’re running a style that I think fits him for his development — come to the line of scrimmage, you do some stuff, play under center, play-action pass. So all of that over time in December, felt like both sides were like, ‘This is a good thing.’”