Travis helps FSU land transfer QB Uiagalelei

• < img src ="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/columnists/full/thamel_pete.png&h=80&w=80&scale=crop"alt=" "width="40"height="

  40″/ > Pete Thamel, ESPNJan 1, 2024, 02:42 PM ET After ending up an All-American profession, Jordan Travis left a parting gift to Florida State.DJ Uiagalelei

  committed to FSU on Monday and told ESPN a discussion with Travis played a huge function in his decision.Uiagalelei stated he had

  long been an admirer of both coach Mike Norvell and Florida State’s aggressive offensive plans. But he found out more about the program from Travis.”He informed me that Coach Norvell and [

  quarterbacks coach Tony] Tokarz are fantastic coaches and coach you hard and will establish you,”Uiagalelei said in a phone interview Monday.” He also stated that outdoors football, they really cared about him as a person.” Uiagalelei stated Travis communicated a story about a three-game ACC losing streak in 2022 and how the coaches responded. Travis informed Uiagalelei:”They asked,’How are you doing as a person?’ They stated, ‘I’m here for you, not simply as a coach, but also as a friend.’ That’s something that I worth and had at Oregon State with Coach [Jonathan] Smith and Coach [Brian] Lindgren. … Undoubtedly they have to do with the best stuff. “Uiagalelei’s dedication marks a substantial addition for Florida State, which was down to one scholarship quarterback, Brock Glenn, for Saturday’s Orange Bowl loss to Georgia.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated Uiagalelei informed ESPN that FSU had actually been his top priority and goal the whole time since entering the website

. He had visited there more than 2 weeks back and waited patiently for things to come together. Uiagalelei had actually likewise been exploring the NFL, but he stated he took no other college check outs.”That’s where I wished to go the whole time,”Uiagalelei said.” I didn’t talk with numerous other programs. For the many part, I was secured at Florida State. I valued them throughout the entire procedure. I wanted to be a Seminole. I wished to belong to the program. I’m just blessed that Coach Norvell wished to take me. I can’t wait to get there and get to work.”Uiagalelei visited Florida State in mid-December and has stayed in touch with the school. Former Washington State quarterback Camera Ward, who stated for the NFL draft earlier Monday, had likewise taken a visit. Uiagalelei will get in FSU as the prohibitive preferred to start.He has actually begun 40 profession games with a 30-10 record, tossing for 8,319 backyards and 57 goals. His choice will mark a return to the ACC

, where he began his career at Clemson as a declared recruit from Southern California. He bet the Tigers for three seasons before transferring to Oregon State in 2015. FSU hosts Clemson in 2024, which will undoubtedly be an extremely publicized reunion.”Florida State’s offense plays to my strengths,”Uiagalelei stated. “They push the ball down the field. They’re going to take deep shots. They have playmakers all around there. Coach Norvell does an unbelievable task computing for challengers. He’s a guy that’s a wise football mind.”It will mark the 3rd college stop for Uiagalelei, who was the No. 43 overall hire in ESPN’s rankings, including the No. 1 pocket passing quarterback in the Class of 2020. While

it hasn’t been a linear path, Uiagalelei worried on Monday that he’s grateful for his journey.”For me, I didn’t think my college career was going to go by doing this,” he stated, “going to my 3rd school. However it couldn’t have gone better for me as an individual, to develop through difficulty, through the great times and the low times. There’s many lessons en route.” I’ve developed a lot as an individual and a player. For me, I felt grateful for every single opportunity God has actually offered me and blessed me with. There’s numerous true blessings, numerous terrific people and players. Numerous fantastic lessons that

football has taught me. “Uiagalelei flashed enhancement throughout his latest stop at Oregon State, and he revealed a jump in his development under Smith and Lindgren in 2023. He completed 57.1%of his passes while averaging a career-high 8.4 yards per attempt

. He likewise threw for a career-high 2,638 backyards while leading Oregon State to an 8-4 regular-season record, a run that included wins over Utah, UCLA and Colorado.”I wish to be another guy, be a colleague,”he stated.” Put my construction hat on and go to work and sign up with the brotherhood and be one of the guys. I want to go there and complete and work my tail off. I want to put my best foot forward, win an ACC championship

, reach the College Football Playoff and ultimately win a championship game.”The NFL draft remains Uiagalelei’s next objective, and he’s delighted to see how working with Norvell can assist him arrive. He stated FSU’s offensive aggressiveness syncs well with his ability set.FSU got elite quarterback play from Travis this season, but his injury on Nov. 18 ended his college

career. It also put Florida State’s season in the crosshairs, as Travis ‘lack played a huge function in the program’s unprecedented College Football Playoff snub. The Seminoles became the very first power conference

team to go undefeated and win its league title and not reach the CFP.Since the snub, two FSU backup quarterbacks– Tate Rodemaker and A.J. Duffy– have gotten in the transfer website. Travis runs out eligibility and off to the NFL, which left Glenn as the team’s only staying scholarship quarterback.Uiagalelei stated he has actually remained upbeat and favorable through all the twists of his journey.”I wish to keep growing and learning and developing each and every

day, “he said.”I hope I can raise my draft stock and put myself in the very best position for the future. … My journey is still going. I’m still writing my own journey.”