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Clemson is still waiting on D.J. Uiagalelei to make the leap


DJ Uiagalelei

DJ Uiagalelei
Picture: beautiful pictures

Overall, there’s a better feeling about Clemson at this point in the season. Dabo Swinney isn’t afraid of a tough non-conference game, and it just so happens when the Tigers’ big non-ACC game at Notre Dame takes place in early November of this year. Obviously, that would have been a better resume builder before the Irish were dropped from the top 25, but that’s not the point.

The problem is that the Tigers have yet to face anyone this season, with split wins against Georgia Tech, Furman and Louisiana Tech. If the Yellow Jacket doesn’t have such a breakdown, we can glean more information from a single match against a five-power opponent. That was not the case as Jackets were outclassed in Clemson and Ole Miss games by a total of 83-10.

So it’s fair to say Clemson hasn’t played anyone yet, and you might even add that those wins, unbalanced when the final score comes up, don’t particularly convince opponents and their expectations. Clemson football. This week, the Tigers visit the defending ACC champion, No. 21 Wake Forest (I know, it’s weird for me to type it that way for you to read), and we’ll really see if Swinney’s team is worthy. It’s worth it not to rank in the top five.

It’s not a matter of talent, it’s just about who gets the talent from the ball. After a challenging first year under the center in 2021 by any school’s standards, DJ Uiagalelei begins entering this year’s season as a starter with the warning he could be fired. propelled by Cade Klubnik, a five-star student who was the #1 QB in and undefeated as a starter in Texas high school football’s most competitive league.

Whether it’s just a slow start, or some plot to keep fans from clamoring for Klubnik, the Tigers have only won a streak of five super frosh. After one possession in each of the Georgia Tech and Furman contests, it looked like Klubnik would have time to settle on his own as Clemson took a 34-6 lead late in the third quarter against Louisiana Tech.

After playing three and one, four unsuccessful runs, and two Bulldog points, Uiagalelei had to be reintroduced because the lead was cut to 34-20, and Swinney felt nervous. If you’re saying, “Well, didn’t the DJ give them the lead in the first place?” The score was 13-6 at halftime, and Tech opened the second half by throwing picks on its first two hits, leading to Tiger’s touchdown, one of which occurred in a Will Shipley’s 32-yard run.

The longest run from practice this year for the Tigers was a 41-yard pass. That Shipley score is the longest run. By comparison, the Demon Deacons had four with longer or longer plays, including the 68-yard finish, and eight with 20 or more records compared to Clemson’s six. Granted Wake is also playing with underdogs, and needed to stop at a two-point conversion to beat Liberty last week, but it can still move the ball.

The Demon Deacons played well enough to get some of their backup work. Mitch Griffis has 14 times more and 222 yards more than Klubnik. Clemson is putting out more yards per game (244.7) than they throw for (243). Wake really entered this game with a higher average offensive output (434 yards per game to 425).

Demon Deacon coach Dave Clawson and full-back Sam Hartman stole the ACC last season, they were in sync and will rack up enough points to force Clemson to throw. Tiger’s longtime defensive coordinator Brent Venables currently coaches Oklahoma. Furman completed passes and sustained passes with a well-designed script, and ultimately won the battle for possession 10 minutes into their visit to Memorial Stadium.

A season ago, the Tigers beat Deacs 48-27 in Death Valley on a six-game winning streak to end the season 10-3 after starting 4-3. That means Uiagalelei has a team that is on a nine-match winning streak. In those wins, he’s 156 for 263 with 1,806 yards, 10 TD passes and six picks. That’s 200 yards a game, with a 59 percent completion rate. Only once in that period has he run more than 36 yards – he’s 62 yards above the ground compared to La. Tech – and in no match did he get past 300 yards in the air. And these are the victories we are talking about.

The Tigers didn’t light up their early-season cupcakes in a way that convinced you Uiagalelei turned the corner, and they didn’t get a plan B. Winning 3-0 is the goal of most shows – it’s not Clemson’s goal.

This is a bigger game than you might think starts Saturday, and I know how much that extra time helps the East Coast. Winston-Salem should have good weather and a better crowd. Who knows about their defense, but who cares.

And now a word on Tennessee-Florida

College Gameday last visited Knoxville in 2016, and this is also the last time these two competitors have met as equal rivals. The 14th-ranked Vols ended up beating Gators No. 19, 38-28, on their way to a 9-4 record, placing 22nd in the AP Poll. It was also the last time UT finished the season in the top 25.

Much of the SEC’s schedule will come out after Saturday, with LSU, No. 8 Kentucky, No. 2 Alabama and No. 1 Georgia scheduled to take place over the next four of the next five weeks. Good luck to head coach Josh Heupel and the crew.

Hendon Hooker is a dynamic QB on that offense, and if they play the way they have shown, this will be a Vols win. It seems like a decade ago, Gator QB Anthony Richardson led Florida past 7th-place Utah in the season opener, but it’s still only September. He is yet to score a goal this season and has four interceptions in the past two games.

Current Tennessee fans will see that and say, “Yup, he’s due, and we’re damned.” Calm. Remember your breathing technique. You understand. ESPN is here. Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and CBS are all here. It’s your special day. What could happen? That’s just Florida.



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