FSU Football Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei Says "Love" For Clemson Still Remains

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is back in the ACC again, representing different colors this time. Uiagalelei transferred from Clemson to Oregon State after the 2022 season before arriving at Florida State this spring.

Uiagalelei was with the Tigers from 2020-2022, as he threw for 2,521 yards and 22 touchdowns in his final season in Death Valley before entering the portal. 

Uiagalelei said while he enjoyed his years at Clemson, he needed a better fit to improve his overall skillset.

In an interview with On3, Uiagalelei reflected on his years as a Seminole.

“I still have a lot of love for Clemson,” Uiagalelei said. “And they did nothing but – it was an amazing time I had at Clemson. Granted, my journey ended up taking me somewhere else, but I loved my time at Clemson. Coach [Dabo] Swinney is an amazing coach, all the guys they were great and every single staff member there was great. I loved it. And I graduated, like, my best friends still play there. I still talk to them to this day. My brothers are still on that team." (The Spun)

When it comes to Uiagalelei going up against his former team in Week 5, he said the moment matters most, not the past. However, the familiarity is still there.

“I think yeah, because that was somewhere I played at,” Uiagalelei said. “That was my first place I played at. That’s the place I graduated from. A lot of my friends are still on the team, a lot of coaches I still know.”

The Seminoles open the season on Aug. 24 against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland.