It has been a tough season for Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, getting benched on numerous occasions for his poor performances by head coach Dabo Swinney.
Saturday’s ACC Championship game against North Carolina presented a great opportunity for Uiagalelei to quiet his critics.
However, Clemson’s slow start in the game gave Swinney no choice but to bench his quarterback yet again. Uiagalelei led the Tigers for their first two possessions and got nothing going.
Clemson totaled seven yards and no first downs in their first two possessions, and they turned to freshman backup Cade Klubnik to try and give a spark to their offense.
He did so in a big way, leading the team down the field on his first possession and capping the impressive drive off with a touchdown pass.
Cade Klubnik comes in and immediately leads a TD drive for Clemson🐅
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 4, 2022
He did the same on the next two drives, leading two other scoring drives to put the Tigers in the driver’s seat in this matchup with some impressive throws in the first half.
What a dot @CadeKlubnikQB 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vMbdQ5tQ7h
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 4, 2022
Clemson might have found themselves a new stud in Cade Klubnik.
Punches it in from a yard out after throwing a 68 yard BOMB to Cole Turner the play before.
Clemson 21 – UNC 7@ABCNews4 pic.twitter.com/T8JIvSUlSR
— Sean Mahoney (@SeanMahoneyTV) December 4, 2022
It certainly seems like this may have been the final straw for Uiagalelei at Clemson, leading to questions about his future at the program moving forward.
DJ Uiagalelei gonna enter the transfer portal during halftime or wait until the end of the game?
— jesse spector (@jessespector) December 4, 2022
I do feel bad for DJ Uiagalelei. From everything I've read and heard he's a really good kid and a great teammate. Just couldn't ever get going at Clemson. Not a fit for that system IMO.
— Bryan Driskell (@CoachD178) December 4, 2022
Wonder where DJ Uiagalelei will transfer to.
— Greg Williams (@GregWilliams28) December 4, 2022
How does DJ Uiagalelei manage to even look terrible against North Carolina?
Derping against South Carolina was bad enough; but the Tarheels make that secondary look like the ‘95 Cowboys.
It’s honestly impressive how awful he is.
— Roll ‘Bama Roll (@rollbamaroll) December 4, 2022
So where is DJ Uiagalelei transferring to?
Notre Dame?
Oklahoma State?
Kentucky?
Washington?— Chris Trapasso 🏈 (@ChrisTrapasso) December 4, 2022
DJ Uiagalelei is either entering the NFL Draft or the transfer portal.
I imagine his draft outlook is bleak right now. I think plenty of P5 schools would love to take a chance on him.
Chip Kelly needs to replace DTR at UCLA. I bet Oregon would take a look too.
— Kevin Walsh Jr. (@TheKevinWalsh) December 4, 2022
Given how well Klubnik has played on this big stage, it certainly begs the question of how different their season could have been if they had turned to him over Uiagalelei earlier in the season.
In all likelihood, the Tigers would be in the College Football Playoff picture if they had beaten South Carolina last week, but they ultimately lost in large part due to Uiagalelei’s struggles.
It undoubtedly leaves Clemson fans with a big “what if” on their season, and DJ Uiagalelei could be entering the transfer portal sooner rather than later.
