Uiagalelei is poised to fill a crucial role for the Seminoles immediately.
Florida State announced the addition of DJ Uiagalelei, a transfer quarterback from Oregon State, on Tuesday. Ranked as the No. 69 overall prospect and No. 13 quarterback in 247Sports’ transfer rankings, Uiagalelei will be eligible to play right away as a graduate transfer, despite this being his third program since enrolling at Clemson in 2020.
Uiagalelei visited Florida State in December, with the Seminoles widely viewed as the front-runners to secure his commitment. He ultimately chose to join FSU over other potential options, including the NFL. He is set to replace Jordan Travis, who has exhausted his eligibility after five seasons with Florida State.
Coach Mike Norvell expressed his enthusiasm for Uiagalelei’s addition, highlighting his track record of success as a starting quarterback and his exemplary leadership qualities both on and off the field. Norvell emphasized Uiagalelei’s work ethic and eagerness to develop within the Seminoles’ system, while also praising the talent surrounding him at FSU.
Uiagalelei’s lone season at Oregon State following his transfer from Clemson was highly productive, as he achieved career highs in passing yards (2,638), passer rating (145.0), and yards per pass attempt (8.4), while also accounting for 27 total touchdowns. He opted to transfer from Oregon State after head coach Jonathan Smith departed for Michigan State.
The 2023 season marked a significant improvement for Uiagalelei, who had faced high expectations since his recruitment as one of the top prospects in 247Sports history. Despite initial inconsistency during his first two seasons as a full-time starter at Clemson, Uiagalelei demonstrated his potential early on, notably leading the Tigers to victories against Boston College and Notre Dame as a freshman.
Uiagalelei’s arrival at Florida State provides stability at the quarterback position for at least one season, allowing younger quarterbacks on the roster to develop. With the departures of Jordan Travis and backup Tate Rodemaker, true freshman Brock Glenn emerged as the only scholarship quarterback in Florida State’s Orange Bowl appearance against Georgia. While Glenn showed promise, he also displayed areas for improvement, underscoring the need for a seasoned quarterback like Uiagalelei.
Additionally, Florida State recently secured the commitment of quarterback Luke Kromenhoek for the 2024 class, who could benefit from learning behind Uiagalelei as he adjusts to the collegiate level.
