Dabo Swinney discusses QB DJ Uiagalelei’s future at Clemson ahead of Senior Day
Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has NFL aspirations.
Come December, he’ll also have a degree from the university.
But when Clemson released a list of the 20-plus players it’s planning to honor for Senior Day this Saturday against Miami, Uiagalelei wasn’t on it — another indication that the junior starter remains undecided on his future with the program.
Uiagalelei said last month that he hadn’t “thought about anything” regarding his future — whether that’s returning for the 2023 season or leaving after 2022 pursue a pro career. Head coach Dabo Swinney echoed that sentiment Tuesday in explaining why Uiagalelei wasn’t on the senior day list.
“He’s graduating in December,” Swinney said, “but I don’t think that’s something that … (I) just don’t think he wanted to be honored on Senior Day. I don’t think he wanted to deal with all the process of it. And he’s not worried about any of that stuff. He’s just worried about beating Miami. That’s what he’s worried about — which is what he should be worried about.”
Uiagalelei is averaging a career-high 217.9 passing yards per game as a junior and has thrown a career-high 19 touchdowns passes against five interceptions this season. He’s also averaging a career-high 40.5 rushing yards per game and has scored five rushing touchdowns.
But after a stellar start to 2022 — one that saw him turn the ball over just three times in Clemson’s first seven games while emerging as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy — Uiagalelei has fallen back down to earth a bit.
Clemson benched Uiagalelei and turned to backup quarterback Cade Klubnik, a highly touted true freshman and former five-star recruit from Texas, in the second half of an Oct. 22 win against Syracuse and a Nov. 5 loss at Notre Dame.
Last weekend’s game against Louisville was a “do or die” situation for Uiagalelei, Swinney said, and the junior responded and held onto his starting position with a steady performance in a win.
Uiagalelei, who is 20-5 as Clemson’s starting quarterback, said leading into the Syracuse game that he wouldn’t focus on his long-term future with the Tigers until after the season.
“For me, man, I haven’t thought about anything,” he said Oct. 17. “I’ve just been focused on the season … I haven’t thought about anything like that yet. … I feel like that stuff will take care of itself, whatever happens. But for me, I’m just focused on this season, focused on the guys around me, focused on my offense, my defense and the guys in the locker room and the coaches. So that’s all I’ve been focused on.”
Uiagalelei, who’s in his third season at Clemson, technically has two remaining years of eligibility: his senior year and a “COVID year,” the blanket year of extra eligibility that the NCAA granted to athletes who competed during the 2020-21 season affected by the pandemic.
As Clemson (9-1, 7-0 ACC) prepares to host Miami (5-5, 3-3 ACC), here’s the full list of players it expects to honor for Senior Day. Per the school, “inclusion on the list does not necessarily indicate that the player has elected to move on following the 2022 season. … Some members of this group may elect to return for 2023 at their discretion.” The participant list is still being finalized.
Clemson potential Senior Day honorees
TE Davis Allen **
LB Jesiah Carlton
LB David Cote
OL Mac Cranford
DT Tyler Davis **
S Carson Donnelly
DE K.J. Henry **
WR Tye Herbstreit
QB Hunter Johnson
CB Sheridan Jones **
LB Keith Maguire **
DE Justin Mascoll **
OL Jordan McFadden **
WR Joseph Ngata **
DT Ruke Orhorhoro **
S Jalyn Phillips **
PK B.T. Potter **
TE Luke Price **
DE Andrew Roberts
DT Jabriel Robinson
CB Elijah Rodgers
LB Trenton Simpson **
WR Drew Swinney **
DE Xavier Thomas (season-ending surgery)
PK Jonathan Weitz
OL Hunter Rayburn (medical exemption)
** Player listed on Clemson’s most recent two-deep depth chart
This story was originally published November 15, 2022 at 1:23 PM.
