Dabo Swinney on D.J. Uiagalelei: 'I'll Always Be Thankful for Him'
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Dabo Swinney and the No. 14 Clemson Tigers (3-1) head to Tallahassee to meet the Florida State Seminoles (1-4) on Saturday. The two Atlantic Coast Conference foes don’t have much in common this season—except for a relationship with D.J. Uiagalelei—as the year has gotten off to a polar opposite start for the longtime rivals.
While the Tigers continue to build momentum after a tough opening loss to then-No. 1 Georgia, the Seminoles find themselves reeling after a shocking start to the season—far from the expectations they carried as a Top 10 team coming off a 13-1, including an undefeated regular season and ACC Championship campaign under head coach Mike Norvell.
The Clemson-Florida State rivalry has been one of the most storied matchups in the ACC, with games often carrying significant national implications. This season the Seminoles are struggling mightily, with their lone win coming against Cal 14-9 two weekends ago.
Clemson, on the other hand, has rebounded from their season-opening loss to Georgia with strong performances, particularly from quarterback Cade Klubnik, who has continued to grow into his role as the team’s leader. With a healthy balance of offensive firepower and a defense that’s hopeful of adding former five-star Peter Woods back in the mix, the Tigers are eyeing a run toward the ACC Championship Game.
Much of the offseason buzz around Florida State revolved around the addition of former Clemson quarterback Uiagalelei through the transfer portal. After leaving Tiger Town following the 2022 season and spending a year at Oregon State, Uiagalelei was tasked to lead the Seminoles in their quest for a second stellar season.
For Uiagalelei, none of that preseason hype materialized as the Noles—the ACC favorites—have stumbled their way down in the conference standings. Now, with a Clemson matchup looming, a finger injury on his throwing hand—sustained in last weekend's 42-16 loss to SMU—will sideline Uiagalelei for what was anticipated to be one of the biggest storylines of the ACC season.
The loss of Uiagalelei only compounds their issues as they enter the game with inexperienced quarterback Brock Glenn taking over after last week’s drubbing at the hands of SMU. Despite the challenges Florida State faces, Swinney knows not to underestimate a team hungry for redemption.
“They've had some tough, tough games. They've had a couple of close losses and, again, some missed opportunities. They got some dudes over on that defense that it don't take long to turn the tape on, and you see it.”
During his Sunday teleconference, Swinney addressed Uiagalelei’s status and reflected on the relationship he had with his former quarterback, offering nothing but praise for the Clemson graduate.
"Well, my current relationship is you can't have a current relationship—otherwise you'd have tampering," Swinney said. "But the way our relationship ended here was great. I love that kid. I enjoyed him. Heck, he was 22-6 here as a starter. I know we didn't win them all, but he was 22-6, and two of those losses were on the road in double overtime and could have gone either way.”
Uiagalelei’s time at Clemson was filled with high expectations as he took the reins from Trevor Lawrence in 2021. While his tenure had its ups and downs, Swinney is quick to defend the quarterback’s impact on the program, pointing out the razor-thin margin between success and criticism in college football.
"I'll always be thankful for that young man. He’s one of the best I’ve ever worked with. He's four plays away from being 26-2 instead of 22-6," Swinney noted. "He did a lot of great things for us, and he's a graduate. I'll always be thankful for him."
Some fans have been critical of Uiagalelei, believing he was a bad teammate for leaving Clemson before the Tigers' Orange Bowl matchup with Tennessee, but Swinney said the two had a great relationship, and unfortunately, that had to end.
“There wasn't ever a day that I didn't enjoy being around DJ. But as far as a relationship—it's not—you can't communicate,” Swinney noted. “That's one of the unfortunate things, but it just is what it is.”
When asked about the challenges of navigating the transfer portal era and maintaining relationships with former players like Uiagalelei, Swinney expressed the complexities of modern college football.
"We've been told from our compliance people that even with guys that are maybe at other places, it's just something you shouldn't do, because kids can come and go and all that stuff. You can't communicate with players that are at other places because that opens you up for tampering and things like that, but it'll be good to see him," Swinney explained.
Swinney was also asked about his protocol for speaking with players and if he’d say anything to Uiagalelei or any players after the game Saturday night in Tallahassee.
"Oh, yeah. Absolutely," he responded. "But I ain't going over there saying, ‘Hey, man, if you hate it there, come play for us.’ On the road, I try to congratulate players, but, yeah, I don't get involved in any of that stuff. I think that's probably pretty obvious."
Though Uiagalelei may not take the field, his presence looms over a game that will be a measuring stick for both programs. For Clemson, a win would solidify their status as a potential ACC frontrunner, while Florida State looks to salvage what remains of a season that began with such high hopes.
One thing is certain—whether he’s watching from the sideline or suited up, Uiagalelei’s story is unique—but it’s one Swinney will always appreciate—even if a segment of the fan base feels otherwise.
“He's one of the best young kids that I've ever worked with. He's a Clemson graduate. He gave everything he had when he was here,” Swinney said. "He won a lot of games here with us. So, I’ll always be thankful for him."
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