Los Angeles Chargers QB DJ Uiagalelei throws first preseason touchdown

Uiagalelei was a five-star recruit coming out of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) in the Class of 2020, where he was tabbed the No. 12 overall ranked player in the country. He committed to Clemson, where he was expected to lead the program to more National Championships following the Deshaun Watson/Trevor Lawrence era.

Things just didn’t pan out for DJU in Clemson however, as he passed for 5,681 yards, 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions over the span of three seasons (two seasons as the starter). The Tigers missed the College Football Playoff in both seasons he was in charge, leading to a somber exit from the program.

He’d spend his final two seasons of college football at Oregon State and Florida State, where things weren’t much better. Uiagalelei enjoyed the best season of his career with the Beavers, as he passed for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. After leading them to an 8-4 record, he made the decision to head to Tallahassee.

DJ Uiagalelei is on cut-line for next week’s 53-man roster trim

His stint with Florida State was an absolute disaster, as he passed for just 1,065 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions in just five games before he suffered a season-ending injury. The Seminoles were 1-4 in games he started and would go on to finish with a 2-10 record, the worst in program history.

As a highly-heralded recruit coming out of high school however, the potential is absolutely still there. This is why the Chargers took a chance on Uiagalelei as an undrafted free agent. He has shared a quarterback room with starter Justin Herbert, Trey Lance and Taylor Heinicke throughout the preseason.

Roster cuts will come following Saturday night’s preseason game, and it seems to be down to Uiagalelei and Heinicke as to who will be QB No. 3 for the Chargers this season. If he can keep making throws like the one he made to Gadsdon II, DJU should have no problem latching on as a backup quarterback elsewhere if Los Angeles decides not to hold onto him as it heads into the regular season.