According to 247Sports, Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will enter the NCAA transfer portal for the second time, ending a successful one-year stay for the Beavers and former Clemson starter in Corvallis, Oregon. Uiagalelei’s departure comes less than a week after Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith took the Michigan State job, prompting the Beavers to promote defensive coordinator Trent Bray to fill the vacancy.
Participation in the 2024 NFL Draft is still possible for Uiagalelei, according to 247Sports.
Uiagalelei has been a well-documented project for Smith after the former five-star recruit endured two consecutive disappointing seasons at Clemson. Although Uiagalelei’s performance in his first year at Oregon State didn’t change much compared to his final season at Clemson – he scored 27 total touchdowns in 2023 after scoring 29 points in 2022 with the Tigers – he seemed to be at his best Smith feels far more comfortable with the system. He received far more protection and suffered just 11 sacks after being sacked more than 20 times in 2022 and 2021 at Clemson.
The stats were solid. Uiagalelei passed for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions and rushed for an additional 219 yards and six touchdowns in his only season at Oregon State. The Beavers finished the regular season 8-4 and started 8-2 before losing their final two games of the regular season to No. 3 Washington and No. 5 Oregon.
Uiagalelei’s time at Oregon State brought a return to the West Coast — the signal-caller grew up in Southern California — after playing at Clemson from 2020-22. He emerged as the Tigers’ starter in 2021 after backing up future top NFL draft pick Trevor Lawrence in 2020, but showed inconsistent play before eventually being overtaken by Cade Klubnik as the team’s starter at the end of the 2022 season became.
Over his career, Uiagalelei has rushed for 8,319 yards and 57 touchdowns with 24 interceptions and added another 1,132 yards and 21 scores.
What it means for Uiagalelei, Oregon State
While it’s not a given that Uiagalelei will return to the collegiate level in 2024, given the number of teams that would welcome a Power Five starter with his experience, it’s fair to assume he has options . Former five-star recruit from Southern California powerhouse St. John Bosco immediately becomes one of the most notable quarterbacks on the transfer market, joining a list that already includes Arkansas’ KJ Jefferson, Duke’s Riley Leonard and Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall belong.
Uiagalelei, who is following Smith to a rebuilding Michigan State program, doesn’t feel completely left out given their existing relationship, although other suitors are likely coming into play for a quarterback who has burnished his resume in 2023.
For Oregon State, Uiagalelei’s looming entry into the transfer portal is the latest blow to a program that has already lost its respected coach as it prepares to move to the Pac-12 — or at least the Pac-12 as we know it. to come into life. Even though quarterbacks Ben Gulbranson and Aidan Chiles — the latter of whom signed with Oregon State as a four-star prospect last year, according to 247Sports — are still on the roster, nothing seems guaranteed to move forward from a personnel standpoint as the Beavers prepare to make an extreme stretch to claim troubled realignment waters.
The Pac-12 is expected to lose a total of 10 members to other power conferences in 2024, leaving only the Beavers and Washington State behind.