CHARLOTTE — Dabo Swinney arrived at last month’s ACC media days event ready to publicly vouch for a starting quarterback he knew college football wasn’t completely sold on.
And vouch he did.
From a message boards riff to a war reference (“He’s got some shrapnel”) to a passionate Sirius XM rant featuring a Alabama community college, “milkbone underwear” and an expletive that can’t be repeated here, it was a colorful and fiery defense of DJ Uiagalelei from his head coach.
It also underscored what Swinney’s been saying behind closed doors and in other interviews for months: You might not believe in Uiagalelei, but Clemson does.
“I know who he is,” Swinney said.
Lessons learned for Uiagalelei in 2021
As Clemson opens preseason camp, Swinney and his staff are once again handing the keys of the offense to Uiagalelei, the 6-foot-4 junior from Southern California whose performance might very well make or break the Tigers’ 2022 College Football Playoff chances.
They’re gambling on a quarterback who has all the physical tools to succeed but rarely put them all together in 2021. Uiagalelei threw for nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 games and had the lowest passing efficiency rating among 15 qualifying ACC quarterbacks.
Though first-year offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter doesn’t see it as a gamble.
Rather, he said, it’s an exciting opportunity to watch a fully healthy Uiagalelei direct a fully healthy Clemson offense. Rarely did the Tigers have the luxury of both last fall when they finished 10-3.
“He had a great spring, and I’m really proud of where he is after battling through some of the stuff that he went through last year and just overcoming that,” Streeter said. “And that’s part of life. He’s learned those lessons, and he’s doing a great job right now.”
Uiagalelei certainly looked the part at ACC media days. He arrived in Charlotte wiser and healthier and trimmer, having cut some 30 pounds thanks to meal prep, portion control and a cold-turkey mindset when it came to birthday cake ice cream and other sweets.
Engaging and reflective, Uiagalelei spoke openly about his 2021 shortcomings and the mental pressures of knowing you’re the guy, as opposed to coming off the bench like he did with great success in place of Trevor Lawrence twice as a true freshman. And, specific to last season, losing.
“Going through adversity, the bumps in the roads, it makes you appreciate winning,” Uiagalelei said. “My whole life, I’d never lost more than two games in a season.”
Uiagalelei also said all the right things about mentoring freshman quarterback and former five-star recruit Cade Klubnik, whose presence has reminded some pundits of Clemson’s 2018 season, when starter-in-waiting Lawrence took over for Kelly Bryant after four games.
“Cade’s a great player, great teammate and a great leader,” Uiagalelei said, adding: “I’m super excited to see him play. I’m just trying to give him wise words that Trevor (gave me) and help him along this process.”
As for any added pressure knowing who’s behind him?
“I’m just worried about DJ,” he said. “I can’t worry about anybody else.”
‘I believe in him,’ Dabo says
Uiagalelei dealt with lingering finger and knee injuries last season, Swinney said, but the quarterback confirmed he’s fully healthy entering preseason camp.
He should benefit, too, from continuity and health along Clemson’s offensive line, which got rolling during the Tigers’ late-season six-game winning streak and returns four starters.
Uiagalelei also has a haul of returning skill position players, which includes a three-headed monster at running back and a number of experienced wide receivers and tight ends, at his disposal.
At that point, it’ll be up to Uiagalelei and Uiagalelei alone to rise above sophomore struggles and meet Clemson’s sky-high expectations, as well as his sky-high expectations for himself. Easier said than, Swinney acknowledges, but attainable for his QB1.
“It’s a game of performance, and you can’t change that,” Swinney said. “I can talk about how great he is all day long. He has to go do it. (But) I believe in him, and there ain’t no doubt about that.”
