Ex-Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei is expected to move to Oregon State

Old Clemson midfielder DJ Uiagalelei is expected to move to Oregon State, sources told ESPN on Friday night. An announcement is expected in the coming days, according to sources.

Uiagalelei, the former ESPN top 50 who played 22-6 when he started at Clemson, is one of the most talented players in the NCAA transfer portal.

Uiagalelei is from Southern California and his decision to move back West would connect him to one of the West Coast’s ascending shows. Oregon State is about to host a 10-3 season, which includes a 30-3 game Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl.

6-foot-4 tall, 235-pound weight, Uiagalelei has elite hand talent, but he completed less than 60% of his passes during his Clemson career, throwing 36 touchdowns and 17 hits. intercept.

Oregon State returns all five starters in attack and features one of the country’s top young defenders in Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Damien Martinezwho ran 982 yards.

Uiagalelei will have to defeat the incumbent starter Ben Gulbransonwho won 7-1 starting for the Beavers this season. Nolan’s Chancewho started the season as a starter for Oregon State, is in the transfer portal.

Uiagalelei joins Clemson as one of the country’s top midfield rookies in 2020. He became a star in his freshman season, throwing 439 yards in a double loss in extra time at Notre Dame. It marks the most yards by an opposing quarterback at Notre Dame Stadium.

But from then on, Uiagalelei never lived up to the extraordinary expectations. He has played solidly for long periods of time, but Clemson missed the College Football Knockout Qualifiers in both seasons he was the school’s main starter, 2021 and 2022. A two-year span That came after Clemson hit the CFP six times in a row.

Uiagalelei has been withdrawn from work that began in the first quarter of the ACC title game, leading to what appears to be a change of guard with the talented freshman Cade . Club. Uiagalelei entered the gate a few days later.

Uiagalelei has two years of eligibility left. And while he has changed the three-job path that has become the expectation of most top prospects, he has found a program with a good track record in developing quarterbacks.

Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren will try to harness the arm talent of Uiagalelei, who has shown marked improvement this year after he lost weight and performed More well-designed midfield runs. He has hit career highs in passing yards (2,521) and touches (22) as well as dashing yards (545) and hasty touches (7).

Smith is a former college star at Oregon State, and Lindgren has coached quarterbacks in college since 2008. The Beavers’ strong offensive line and running style will ease the pressure on Uiagalelei if he wins. get the job.

Uiagalelei will be one of the most highly regarded rookies to compete in Oregon State in recent years. He is the 43rd player in the Class of 2020. Oregon State has signed only three ESPN 300 players since 2006, with guard Isaac Seumalo, ranked 19th in 2012, being the highest.

The presence of the Uiagalelei in Corvallis would increase the rivalry with Oregon known as the “Civil War”. His younger brother Matayo, a potential ESPN 300 player, has committed to Oregon this week. That means the brothers could line up against each other next season in one of the Pac-12’s biggest showdowns.