Clemson backup QB for Trevor Lawrence revealed: It’s D.J. Uiagalelei
Freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei got the nod as the backup to Trevor Lawrence Saturday night at Wake Forest.
Uiagalelei battled with redshirt freshman Taisun Phommachanh for the backup job throughout preseason camp.
Uiagalelei entered late in the third quarter with Clemson leading Wake Forest 37-7.
Lawrence exited after completing 22 of 28 passes for 351 yards, with one touchdown. The junior also rushed for a pair of scores.
Uiagalelei (pronounced ooh-ee-AHN-guh-luh-lay) was rated as a five-star recruit and the top pro-style quarterback in the country for the class of 2020.
Uiagalelei is listed at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, and according to Dabo Swinney, the California native has a very bright future.
“D.J., he’s just an unbelievable talent,” Swinney said this spring. “We all know what type of arm Trevor has. And sometimes he makes Trevor look kind of normal with his ability to just rip that football. And then, oh by the way, he’s 6-4, 245 pounds and can move. Never really seen a guy quite like him. Very unique.”
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 10:16 PM.
