The Cade Klubnik era begins at Clemson with DJ Uiagalelei's announcement

DJ Uiagalelei announced he was entering the transfer portal on Monday. His move means Klubnik will be the team's starter in the Orange Bowl against Tennessee and beyond.

Uiagelelei never lived up to expectations as the second-ranked QB prospect out of high school in 2020. Only Alabama QB Bryce Young ranked higher.

He first started during his freshman season when Trevor Lawrence was out due to COVID-19 protocols. In two starts, he was 59-of-85 for 781 yards and four touchdowns. He went 1-1, his loss coming to Notre Dame in double overtime, 47-40.

Uiagalelei couldn't match the gaudy numbers from those two 2020 starts in subsequent seasons. Clemson lost five games in 2021 and 2022, as many as it lost between 2017-2020 combined.

He was 22-6 as a starter, which includes last Saturday's ACC Championship, when he was pulled after going 2-of-5 for 10 yards and the Tigers trailing North Carolina 7-0. Klubnik came in and made several people question why the move wasn't made earlier in the season. 

He finished the game 20-of-24 for 279 yards and a touchdown. Klubnik added seven carries for 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground and had a 19-yard reception. Clemson ended up blowing out North Carolina, 39-10.

Klubnik made a couple of touchdown throws that solidified the Tigers as his team going forward.

To Uiagalelei's credit, he showed no bitterness after the game, instead heaping praise on Clemson's new starting QB.

"He took that shot and ran with it," said Uiagalelei, showing great class and poise for a player who didn't have things turn out the way he hoped.

Uiagalelei made positive strides from his sophomore to his junior season. His completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns increased while he threw fewer interceptions. For whatever reason, thought, it never fully clicked at Clemson. 

When he was off, things were really bad. He was benched against Syracuse after throwing an interception and the team trailing 21-10. Klubnik came in and led the team on consecutive scoring drives to put the Tigers on top for good.

In a 31-30 loss to South Carolina, Uiagalelei was 8-of-29 for 99 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Klubnik never saw the field.

He'll be seeing a lot more of it soon enough.

As for Uiagalelei, he'll have his fair share of suitors. His talent didn't evaporate, and wherever he chooses to go, the coaching staff will have a capable, if inconsistent, QB to work with.

It will be up to that staff to get the most out of Uiagalelei. He has the physical traits necessary to be a great QB, and he's shown flashes throughout his career.

Those flashes were too sporadic for Clemson not to make the move to Klubnik.