Outgoing transfer QB DJ Uiagalelei ‘forever thankful’ for his time with Clemson

Former Clemson football starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei released a statement Monday afternoon after officially entering the transfer portal.

Uiagalelei confirmed his departure on Twitter on Monday afternoon and wrote he was “Forever Thankful” for his three seasons at Clemson.

“God has brought me to this special place for a reason and I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything,” Uiagalelei wrote. “I am very thankful and appreciative of the state, trainers and my coaches for believing in me and pushing me every day to be the best I can both on and off the field.”

“The relationships I have built with everyone in the building will last a life time and I am forever thankful for that.”

“Lastly, I want to thank all my teammates. The brotherhood we have at Clemson is something special. The relationships I have built with the guys on the team run much deeper than football.”

“After careful consideration I would like to say that I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”

Uiagalelei has immediate eligibility as a one-time transfer due to NCAA rule changes last year. He will also graduate from Clemson with a bachelor’s degree this month.

Uiagalelei started all 13 games for Clemson this season, but coach Dabo Swinney benched him after just two series in favor of Cade Klubnik, a former five-star recruit from Texas who’d previously spelled Uiagalelei in the second half of previous games against Syracuse and Notre Dame.

Klubnik completed his first 10 passes — his 11th was a drop — and finished 20 of 24 for 279 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions against UNC. He also had a team-high 30 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and a 19-yard catch while becoming the first true freshman in league history to win ACC championship game MVP honors.

Swinney said postgame that Klubnik would start in the Orange Bowl against Tennessee on Dec. 30 but was complimentary of Uiagalelei, who led Clemson (11-2) to a seventh ACC Atlantic Division title and seventh conference championship berth in its last eight seasons.

Uiagalelei had 29 total touchdowns in 2022 while setting career highs across the board but struggled once again with the inefficiency and turnovers that defined his 2021 season.

Uiagalelei leaves Clemson with a mixed on-field legacy but a starting quarterback record well above .500 — he was 21-6 before the ACC title game — and a lot of love from his coach, too.

“He’s a guy that’ll always have a special place in my heart,” Swinney said Saturday, “because nobody has ever worked harder. Nobody has ever been more respected in this program. These guys love DJ, and I do, too.”