Dabo Swinney says there isn’t a person on the planet happier than he is to see DJ Uiagalelei shining at Oregon State.

During his radio show this week, Clemson’s head coach spoke about the success that the former Tiger quarterback is having as a Beaver after transferring from Tiger Town to Corvallis ahead of this season.

“Ain’t nobody happier for DJ than me. I love that kid,” Swinney said. “It’s exactly what I was hoping would happen, that he’d just get a good reset and really just go ball out and have a great year.”

Through seven games this season, Uiagalelei has completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions while rushing for 124 yards and five more scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-4, 252-pounder ranks tied for eighth nationally in points responsible for (120), seventh nationally in total QBR according to ESPN and has helped lead the Beavers to a 6-1 record and current No. 12 ranking in the AP Top 25 Poll.

Uiagalelei thrived in a couple of spot starts as a true freshman in 2020, but unfortunately, things didn’t quite pan out for him at Clemson over the next two seasons. The former five-star prospect struggled in his first full season as the starting quarterback in 2021 before having an up-and-down 2022 campaign that saw him ultimately lose the starting job to Cade Klubnik in the ACC Championship Game and then transfer to Oregon State thereafter.

Still, Uiagalelei went 22-6 as a starter for the Tigers. Overall, in 36 games at Clemson from 2020-22, he completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 5,681 yards and 36 touchdowns with 17 interceptions, to go with 913 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.

“This kid was incredibly committed to Clemson for three years,” Swinney said. “He’s a graduate. I know he got a lot of criticism. The guy’s 22-6 as a starter here, and it’s just crazy. I think he’s got a bright, bright future. I’ve always believed that and again, sometimes you just need a reset, and just really happy for him and proud of him.

“He was 22-6, and shoot, he had two double-overtime losses on the road (to Notre Dame in 2020 and NC State in 2021). Two plays there, and then he had a one-point loss at home (to South Carolina in 2022) and he had a pick-six loss against the team that won the national championship (Georgia in 2021). So, a few plays away, and maybe people have a different narrative of him.”

Swinney hopes to see Uiagalelei finish strong as a Beaver and then continue his football career as a professional after he’s done playing at the college level.

“This kid is a really good player and an unbelievable kid and a great preparer of the game,” Swinney said. “Man, ain’t nobody on the planet happier for that young man than me, and just pulling for him to finish well and continue to go on and do great things and play some pro ball. But he’s always represented Clemson and Oregon State and what he’s doing there with class.”

We have just added a new special to our store. Get the Two Pack of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 and 2023 classes and save $75. Thanks for your support of Clemson football.