Clemson Tigers backmost DJ Uiagalelei officially entered the transportation portal Monday aft a topsy-turvy play successful which helium was yet benched by manager Dabo Swinney successful the ACC rubric game.
Uiagalelei, a junior, finished his last play with 2,521 passing yards and 22 touchdowns to spell with 7 interceptions, arsenic the Tigers went 11-2.
"God has brought maine to this peculiar spot for a crushed and I woudn't commercialized my clip present for anything," Uiagalelei posted to Twitter connected Monday. "I americium precise thankful and appreciative of the staff, trainers and my coaches for believing successful maine and pushing maine each time to beryllium the champion I tin some connected and disconnected the field.
"After cautious information I would similar to accidental that I person decided to participate the transportation portal."
From the opening week of the season, erstwhile Clemson struggled offensively earlier yet moving distant from Georgia Tech, determination was buzz astir backup Cade Klubnik -- a highly touted enlistee -- replacing Uiagalelei.
Klubnik did play successful that triumph implicit the Yellow Jackets, but aft the result was agelong decided.
The aboriginal of the backmost presumption became a play question successful Swinney's quality conferences thereafter. And arsenic the play wore on, the manager continued to backmost Uiagalelei.
Even past week, arsenic the Tigers prepared to conscionable North Carolina successful the ACC title game, Swinney said that Uiagalelei would commencement against the Tar Heels contempt struggling successful a 31-30 nonaccomplishment to South Carolina to adjacent the regular season.
Swinney deflected blasted for that nonaccomplishment from Uiagalelei, pointing to turnovers and drops from receivers arsenic contributing factors.
However, during the triumph implicit the Tar Heels, things changed and Klubnik came disconnected the seat to assistance the Tigers to a 39-10 win. It was their seventh league rubric successful 8 years.
Uiagalelei started the archetypal 2 drives and struggled, going 2-of-5 for 10 yards. Both of his drives ended successful three-and-outs. Klubnik past came in, led a scoring thrust and played the remainder of the game, going 20-of-24 for 309 full yards and 2 full touchdowns.
Afterward, Swinney said the program heading into the crippled was for Klubnik to travel successful connected the 3rd bid nary substance what. Once Klubnik started moving the shot down the field, determination was nary turning back.
Swinney said Klubnik volition commencement the Capital One Orange Bowl against Tennessee connected Dec. 30.
"Things person to hap the mode they're expected to happen, and tonight, that's the mode it went, and Cade was ready," Swinney said aft the win. "You got a accidental to spot what helium tin do. He played successful rhythm, guys made plays for him. He's really, truly fast. He tin truly marque plays with his legs. It was a large nighttime and a glimpse of our aboriginal and what it looks similar astatine Clemson."
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