ACC Network analyst EJ Manuel joined the network’s ACC PM show this week and discussed transfer quarterbacks coming into the conference.

Of course, former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is returning to the ACC, having transferred to Florida State following one season at Oregon State in 2023.

ACC PM co-host Mark Packer asked Manuel if he thinks FSU and head coach Mike Norvell’s program is a natural fit for Uiagalelei, who will be tasked with replacing former Seminole star quarterback Jordan Travis now that he’s concluded his college career.

“I think it is, and I hope so,” Manuel said in response to Packer’s question. “The main reason is because I looked at the way that Coach Norvell and his staff were able to develop Jordan Travis, and now you get DJU for at least a year.”

For Oregon State this past season, Uiagalelei completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions. The 6-foot-4, 252-pounder also had 219 rushing yards and six more scores on the ground.

Manuel, the former FSU star quarterback, believes Uiagalelei “grew a lot” while at Oregon State in 2023.

“I think also with the way the situation happened at Clemson, I think served him well in the sense of he had some failure. And I think for a quarterback, man, that’s a part of it,” Manuel said. “You’re not going to always be the most successful, everybody’s not going to love you, and what that creates is a chip on your shoulder. So, I think Florida State, the fans, we’re going to get – and I say ‘we’ because obviously I’m an alum there – but I think the fan base is going to get a quarterback that’s going to have a huge chip on his shoulder, that’s going to come in focused.”

A former five-star prospect from California, Uiagalelei thrived in a couple of spot starts for Clemson as a true freshman in 2020, but unfortunately, things didn’t quite pan out for him with the Tigers over the next two seasons. He 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 before transferring to Oregon State.

Overall, Uiagalelei went 22-6 as the starter for the Tigers. In 36 career 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.

Manuel added that he thinks the 2024 season “is kind of put up or shut up for DJ” as far as making his case for the NFL.

“If you want to have a chance to play at the next level, man, you’ve got to really put together a solid year,” Manuel said. “And so let’s not forget, he was a five-star, bona fide great player, and I still think he has that kind of ability. So now you mix that in with a Coach Norvell who’s a great quarterback coach – same with their QB coach, Tony Tokarz — they’re going to get him right and they’re going to put some pieces around him.”

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images