Source: Oregon St. names Uiagalelei beginning QB

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

  • Senior WriterAug 22, 2023, 05:57 PM ET Close College football reporter.
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.Oregon State has named DJ Uiagalelei,

  the Clemson transfer, as its starting quarterback to open the 2023 season, a source verified to ESPN.Uiagalelei, who began the past two seasons at Clemson, had actually been taking on redshirt sophomore Ben Gulbranson and true freshman Aidan Chiles. He moved to Oregon State in December, quickly after being benched for freshman Cade Klubnik in the ACC champion game.Oregon State opens the season Sept. 3 at San Jose State, which will play its very first game Saturday at USC. The Oregonian initially

  reported Uiagalelei’s choice as the starter.Uiagalelei had 5,681 passing lawns with 36 goals and 17 interceptions in 3 years at Clemson. In 2020, he had 439 passing yards in his very first career start versus

  Notre Dame– a record for a going to player at Notre Dame Arena. However Uiagalelei had a hard time during the 2021 season, throwing more interceptions (10 )than goal passes(9 ). He had better numbers last season however was changed a number of times by Klubnik.Editor’s Picks ESPN ranked Uiagalelei as the top pocket passer and No. 43 overall hire in the 2020 class. Uiagalelei told ESPN this spring that he transferred to Oregon State mostly since of an offensive scheme he felt might better prepare him for the NFL.” A little more complicated

than I was doing at Clemson, a little bit more NFL-style,”he said.” The different stuff you do, under center, the play-actions, the deep overs, that’s why I wished to come here.”Gulbranson went 7-1 as Oregon State’s starting quarterback in 2022, while passing for 1,455 backyards and nine touchdowns, as the group went 10-3 and completed No. 17 in the AP poll. But Oregon State ranked No. 104 nationally in pass offense, leading to the team looking for a high-profile transfer. Chiles, an ESPN four-star recruit who registered early, had actually impressed in practices throughout the spring and summer.Uiagalelei shined throughout Oregon State’s scrimmage Aug. 12, tossing 3 goal passes. However coach Jonathan Smith said Aug. 15 there still wasn’t separation in the quarterback race.