Despite an all-time College Football Playoff snub and a blowout loss in the Orange Bowl, the Florida State football program is fresh off an electric and program-defining season in 2023. The Seminoles went 13-1, including a perfect 9-0 in the ACC, posting top-20 numbers on offense and defense, and routinely received Heisman-caliber performances from quarterback Jordan Travis in year four of the Mike Norvell era. Travis concluded his college career with Florida State football last fall, with Norvell and company turning to the transfer portal, and eventually DJ Uiagalelei, formerly of Clemson and Oregon State, as their next signal-caller.
Uiagalelei will unquestionably play a significant role at Florida State next season, but that doesn’t mean he wants to take away from the team’s accomplishments last fall. According to his Twitter page (also known as X), Uiagalelei will not participate in this week’s ACC Kick-Off, aka media days for the conference, citing not wanting to take away from last season’s Atlantic Coast Conference title-winning squad.
Florida State Football QB DJ Uiagalelei: Out On ACC Kick-Off
DJ Uiagalelei has chosen to forgo ACC Kick-Off media days in a display of humility and respect for his teammates. Uiagelelei notes he made this decision out of his deep appreciation for the players who were part of last year’s near-perfect Seminoles squad, which he was not a member of, having played for the Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-12 before entering the transfer portal.
#NoleFamily🍢🍢 pic.twitter.com/iVxDUl4dwx
— DJ Uiagalelei (@DJUiagalelei) July 9, 2024
“I was honored to be invited by the conference to represent Florida State at this year’s Kick-Off. The experience of attending that event in 2021 and 2022 is among the highlights of my time in college, and I appreciate being viewed as one of the conference’s top players heading into this season. However, I feel strongly that Florida State should be represented by players who were part of last year’s ACC championship team. The players who helped put this program back on top of the ACC should have the opportunity to be recognized for their contributions. This team is more than its quarterback, and I’m excited for my teammates, who will participate in this fantastic event,”
Uiagalelei is no stranger to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s preseason media days, spending his first three seasons with the Clemson Tigers as a highly-touted prospect turned starter. Uiagalelei, the successor to College Football Playoff champ Trevor Lawrence, left Clemson for Oregon State in 2023. The California native posted career numbers with the Beavers last year before eventually landing with the Florida State football program for the upcoming season.
Uiagalelei: Entering Fifth College Season
DJ Uiagalelei’s journey to Florida State football in 2024 is not linear. Starting his career as a backup to Trevor Lawrence at Clemson, he took over as the starter in 2021, his true sophomore season. Despite struggling in his first season as a starter, he bounced back in 2022. After Clemson opted to start another passer in the Orange Bowl, Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal and landed with the Oregon State Beavers for the 2023 season.
Uiagalelei played well in his lone season out west, throwing for a career-high 2,638 yards while tossing 21 touchdowns against seven picks. He also added 219 rushing yards and six scores. Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal again and will now play for Florida State in 2024. Redshirt freshman Brock Glenn will operate as the backup quarterback behind Uiagalelei. With injuries to fellow quarterbacks Jordan Travis and Tate Rodemaker, Glenn started the final two games for FSU last season. He struggled in his starts against Louisville and Georgia, throwing for 194 yards and two picks while completing under 40% of his passes.
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