Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei resembles more and more like the leader who can sustain Clemson’s championship legacy, than the player who struggled mightily in his first season as a full-time starter a year ago.
Uiagalelei passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and the fifth-ranked Tigers took a big first-half advantage, to beat FCS opponent Furman, 35-12, on Saturday afternoon.
”You can see he’s playing with a lot of confidence,” Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter said. ”It shows.”
That was far from the case in 2021 as Uiagalelei, the highly decorated passer, who was expected to quickly take over for Clemson’s No. 1 NFL draft pick Trevor Lawrence, struggled to find his rhythm consistently. Uiagalelei had nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions, as the Tigers fell from the national and ACC title chase by the middle of the season.
”There’s been nobody more under the fire than him,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said about Uiagalelei. ”Two games don’t make a season, but proud of how he’s played.”
Uiagalelei led the Tigers to touchdowns on the first five series to take a 35-9 commanding lead early in the second half. Uiagalelei did suffer an interception off a tipped ball with his team comfortably in the driver’s seat by 23 points.
”For the most part, I played a solid game,” Uiagalelei said. ”Overall, I thought it was good game today.”
Things might settle down this week publicly for Uiagalelei, who was efficient, completing 21 of his 27 passes.
It was Clemson’s eighth straight victory, longest among Power Five Teams, its 35th straight win at Memorial Stadium and 32nd in a row over Furman. Clemson improved to 37-0 all-time against FCS competition.
Clemson opened 2-0 for the seventh time in the last eight campaigns.
Uiagalelei, although he said he did not hear it at the time, got plenty of support and love from the home crowd, the student section yelling “Let’s Go DJ” many times in the first 30 minutes of play.
”You get kind of locked in once the game starts,” the third-year quarterback said.
Sophomore Will Shipley had a pair of touchdown runs of 1 and 17 yards respectively, giving the tailback 15 touchdowns in 12 career games at Clemson.
Furman, 1-1 on the season, punched small holes in Clemson’s defense, especially in the first half, things future Tiger opposition will certainly go over in pregame prep. The Paladins of the Southern Conference, gained 384 yards after Clemson surrendered 237 to Georgia Tech in a Week 1 victory Monday night.
”This team has shown a lot to me these past two games,” said Furman quarterback Tyler Huff, who transferred from Presbyterian this season. ”When we played against a big opponent and were down pretty quick. Nobody gave in, nobody folded.”
Huff completed 30 of 39 for 256 yards and a touchdown as the Paladins outgained Clemson, 384-376.
Furman coach Clay Hendrix thought Uiagalelei was the difference.
”I thought he completely beat us,” Hendrix said. ”He did a couple of things I wasn’t sure he could do. Hats off to him.”
The Paladins found ways to make plays, just not enough to stay close to the ACC preseason title favorite. At least Furman goes home with the $415,000 guarantee for playing at Death Valley.
The Tigers remain a work in progress. A defense that seemed so strong in defeating Georgia Tech looked vulnerable against Furman. Clemson will need to get things cleaned up over the next two weeks before heading to No. 23 Wake Forest on September 24.
Clemson fell a spot in the rankings last week after a 31-point win over Georgia Tech 41-10. Who knows what’s ahead after the Tigers did the expected by blowing out Furman.
The game was the first since Dabo Swinney agreed to a reworked contract that will pay him $115 million over the next 10 seasons through 2031. Swinney said new athletic director Graham Neff reached out to the coach’s agent to begin crafting the deal. Swinney has won seven ACC crowns and two national titles his first 13 full seasons. He thought more big things are ahead. ”And I’m only 52,” he said. ”I’m learning. I’m getting better.”
Furman starts Southern Conference play at East Tennessee State next Saturday. Clemson hosts Louisiana Tech on Saturday night.
