DJ Uiagalelei Already Looks Comfortable With The Oregon State Offense
By STEVEN VAUGHAN, 750 THE GAME
DJ Uiagalelei was one of the highest-recruited high school prospects in recent history. He then signed with Clemson. Uiagalelei had some great games with the Tigers, but eventually, it went downhill and he was the scapegoat for the team. Now he ends up in Corvallis and with Oregon State.
One of the reasons he liked Oregon State was the offense of Jonathan Smith and Brian Lindgren. It was a pro-style offense comparable to the San Francisco 49ers and Uiagalelei felt as if he could shine in that offense.
All eyes were on Uiagalelei in Week 1, and he rose up and shined in his debut.
Head coach Jonathan Smith was on the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano and talked about Uiagalelei’s performance against San Jose State in the opener.
“He looked comfortable out there,” Smith said on 750 The Game. “He contributed a little bit to the plan of what he likes the best with calls and stuff. I thought he was really efficient in knowing where to go with the ball. The protection helped him out. The run game was there. Hopefully, we will continue that throughout the year.”
At the end of Uiagalelei’s Clemson career he looked unsure of himself and his confidence seemed to have dropped a little bit. Smith says that the junior quarterback is comfortable in the Beavers offense and that he has taken a real leadership role.
“He calls two plays in the huddle sometimes and he’s going from one play to another,” Smith said. “Sometimes he’s more or less saying, ‘We’re good’. We’ve got the play call and we’re going to stick with it. There’s times he’s adjusting the protection one way to the other. Sometimes he’s saying a whole lot of nothing up there. It doesn’t mean anything. So there’s some gamesmanship with it. He does have run and pass options if he sees a better look.”
Oregon State dominated Week 1 at San Jose State and Week 2 doesn’t seem as if it will be a challenge either as they open up the new Reser Stadium with a game against UC Davis. Look for Uiagalelei to have another big game on Saturday, this time in front of the Beavers fans in Corvallis.
Listen to the interview with Oregon State head football coach, Jonathan Smith, by clicking the podcast below. Catch the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano weekdays 3-6 pm in Portland exclusively on 750 The Game.
