DJ Uiagalelei’s Heroics Keep Clemson Undefeated
by: Grayson Mann
For Clemson, yesterday’s matchup with Wake Forest was one for the ages. Nearly 100 points were scored as the Demon Deacons and Tigers went back and forth in what could be the game of the year when this season is all said and done.
With so much to unpack in this game, there is one clear spot to start in DJ Uiagalelei. What a game for him, putting the team’s potential playoff and ACC title hopes on his shoulders as he willed his Tigers from every possible spot. DJ would finish with 423 total yards, five passing touchdowns, and a 63 percent completion percentage. DJ finished on third down with fifteen yards per attempt going 9-11 for 211 yards. Those stats within the context of the game are significant, but to truly understand the importance of Saturday’s win, we have to go back to how we got here.
The 2021 season for the Clemson Tigers was supposed to be the year for DJ Uiagalelei. The St. John Bosco product in 2020 gave fans a taste of what to expect when Trevor Lawrence had to miss two games due to COVID-19 policies. Uiagalelei put the nation on notice, nearly throwing for 1,000 yards in two games without throwing a single pick. DJ led a massive comeback over a talented Boston College team, the most by a freshman quarterback, which was eighteen points, and nearly took down Notre Dame, who made the playoffs that year, in South Bend. The hype for DJ was real, and fans were anxiously awaiting for it to finally be his team starting against the Georgia Bulldogs.
From the start of 2021, DJ and the company faced adversity on an unprecedented scale. Different rotations of the offensive line, times where only three scholarship receivers were available, and many other factors led to a ten-win season where fans felt underwhelmed by the offensive performance. DJ would throw for over 2,000 yards with nine touchdowns and ten interceptions. All summer and spring, a buzz was generated about this squad; DJ was working his tail off, losing weight, and getting in the film room whenever he could. The pains of 2021 in DJ’s mind would no doubt pave the way for a successful 2022 season.
Despite the months of noise, calling for his job in favor of freshman Cade Klubnik among many other comments, DJ silenced the negativity and was ready to roll.
For the Tigers, starting 4-0 is trending in the right direction, especially in the 2021 season when the Tigers started 2-2 with losses to NC State and Georgia.
When you look beyond the record and pay attention to the quarterback play, the difference is night and day. Through the first four games of the season, DJ has thrown for over 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns with just one interception. His completion percentage is over sixty percent, and he is statistically one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country. The first three games, which included matchups with a group of five and FCS opponents, were more or less a Clemson preseason, where the team figures out what will and won’t work to determine the team’s identity moving forward. The matchup with Wake Forest has all the ingredients of a high-stakes game, going on the road against the defending division champions.
DJ not only played up to that standard but put the team on his back in the process. DJ made the plays when the team needed them the most. Third down throw after third-down throw, whether it was in the first quarter to Briningstool or double overtime to Davis Allen, Clemson put their faith in DJ, and he rewarded them with an all-time performance.
DJ looks to build off a career game against rival NC State in what should be an electric weekend with College Gameday headed to town.
