Transfer QB target DJ Uiagalelei spends time at Florida State, impressed by Mike Norvell’s team and operation

Oregon State quarterback transfer DJ Uiagalelei recaps his time at Florida State on an official visit

TALLAHASSEE — DJ Uiagalelei, the quarterback, had visited Tallahassee previously, but that was some years ago when he was a member of the Clemson Tigers. Having spent the previous season at Oregon State, he visited the city this past weekend as a transfer quarterback, considering the Seminoles as his possible future stop. He still has one year left to play as a graduate transfer. He went into great detail regarding the visit below, talking about what impressed him, finding out more about head coach Mike Norvell’s program, and much more:

 

He completed 180 of 315 (57.1%) passes for 2,638 passing yards, 21 throwing touchdowns, and seven interceptions at Oregon State this past season. Only eleven times was he fired. In addition, he gained 219 running yards and six rushing touchdowns on 68 rushes. This past season, he recorded career highs in both QB rating (145) and average yards per attempt (8.4).

He completed 515 out of 860 passes (59.9%) for 5,681 yards, 36 passing touchdowns, and 17 interceptions during his three seasons at Clemson. During his three seasons with the Tigers, he was sacked 46 times. In addition, he attempted 275 rushes for 913 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Less than 11 months after transferring to Oregon State, and just one week short of a year after his last entry, he made his NCAA Transfer Portal debut at the end of November.

As of right moment, Uiagalelei is only known to have visited FSU. He has already discussed Mississippi State and Louisville in relation to his portal recruiting.

According to 247Sports.com, he is currently ranked as the No. 12 available portal quarterback and the No. 54 overall prospect in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Complete transcript of the conversation is given below:

What was the visit like?

“Dude, it was awesome. Everything I had anticipated. Mike Norvell, the coach, is an amazing man. Tony (Tokarz), the coach, is an excellent coach. Coach Atkins, you guys are truly amazing and wonderful. You can discern that their words are sincere. quite open. They really appeal to me.

What were your pre-visit expectations of FSU?

“First and foremost, FSU has a great history and legacy. Numerous outstanding players have visited this place, and I believe the heritage speaks for itself. It’s simply an honor to be here because this is the best, if not the best, legacy in Florida State college football history. Being on campus and having the opportunity to speak with coaches and some of the players. I consider it a great privilege to be at Florida State. They provided me with the answers I requested to all of my questions. They’re simply an excellent program. In my opinion, Coach Norvell has done an excellent job, especially with the offense, given how well they played and their 13-0 record. Although their season ended in a difficult way, they had an amazing season. Seeing how they operate and get down here was absolutely beneficial to me. They perform incredibly well.

What insights and lessons did you gain from your discussions and viewing of the films with Norvell, Atkins, and Tokarz?

“They are skilled at what they do. For me, the most important thing is that they be knowledgeable about football. They are familiar with schemes, with Xs and Os. They seem like wonderful folks to me as well. I wanted to just sit down and have a face-to-face conversation with them. I have spoken with them and Coach Norvell on the phone, but it was nice to be able to speak with them in person and ask all the questions I had concerning the offense and other matters.

Do you think you’re a good fit for this offense?

Yes, without a doubt. Personally, if I didn’t believe this place was a good fit, I wouldn’t come. I believe that Florida State is a fantastic fit for me, which is why I am here and why I like it.

What aspects of the offense appeal to you?
They score a lot of points, have a strong offensive line, push the ball down the field, and have playmakers outside. For me, the most important thing is to keep improving as a quarterback. I have a lot of things that I want to keep improving and learning. I have the impression that working with Coach Norvell and many of the other coaches here would help me improve and advance.

What can you learn from Jordan Travis’s progress about what you could do in this same situation?

“I believe he did a fantastic job. He made a fantastic shift from when he initially arrived to now. Jordan Travis is a fantastic player, in my opinion. I believe it’s evident that Jordan Travis is on fire these past two years, and they’ve done a fantastic job molding him into the outstanding player that he was. Despite not even finishing the season, he placed fifth in the Heisman voting this year. That, in my opinion, says a lot about how well they manage the offense and the quarterback here.

What is the timeline for your decisions? READ MORE

“I’m clueless. I’m simply going day by day. Thank God, he will make that decision for me. I’m simply going day by day. I definitely really like Florida State, but I’m keeping that a secret from my family. It was a wonderful weekend, and I appreciate them giving me the chance to come here. They’ve done an amazing job.

Have you had any contact with Jordan Travis?

Yes, before coming here, I had a phone conversation with him. He’s a really kind guy. He’s a fantastic player and person. He and everyone I’ve spoken to have had nothing but positive things to say about Florida State, but when I arrived, that was all I could see. Only positive things to say about the coaches and the way they manage the program. With these people, you can tell they mean what they say.

Are there any more scheduled visits?