FSU Football Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei Listed Among Most Impactful Super Seniors
College football remains in a weird spot, and it's not completely because of the transfer portal or Name, Image, and Likeness. The sport is still feeling repercussions from the 2020 season, which was interrupted by COVID-19.
Players from that season are granted an additional year of eligibility because of the unique conditions of 2020. The run of players with extra eligibility will end in 2024, with the final wave of "super seniors" coming through.
For the Florida State Seminoles, they'll have one of the most impactful super seniors in the 2024 college football season, according to 247Sports' Carter Bahns. Oregon State transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will provide incredible experience under center for the 'Noles.
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"After experiencing a career resurgence last year at Oregon State, DJ Uiagalelei returns to the ACC to quarterback the playoff-hopeful Seminoles in 2024," Bahns wrote. "The former five-star recruit fell short of lofty expectations during his three years at Clemson but displayed greater reliability with the Beavers and is now tasked with keeping Florida State at the forefront of the ACC and college football conversations. That task is made more difficult by the departures of standout wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson."
The fifth-year quarterback was a five-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. His first year at the college level came during the season that COVID-19 impacted. As Bahns referred, Uiagalelei played at Clemson, an ACC rival of the Seminoles, where he fell short of expectations.
Now, Uiagalelei brings veteran experience as a signal-caller to replace Jordan Travis, who played six seasons of college football before heading to the NFL Draft. While Coleman and Wilson will join Travis as potential professional football players, Uiagalelei will still have plenty of depth at the wide receiver position to spread the ball.
Fresh off a 2023 ACC Championship win, the Seminoles and Uiagalelei have the potential to run things back and win the conference again while attempting to make the College Football Playoffs, which will have a 12-team playing field. The former Tigers and Beavers quarterback will also get to play his original school as the Seminoles take on Clemson on October 5 in Tallahassee.
The potential of the Seminoles' 2024 season goes hand in hand with Uiagalelei's ability to carry the load offensively, and he could single-handedly raise the ceiling of the team's season. With the program likely to be ranked heading into Week One, Uiagalelei certainly does have the potential to be one of college football's most impactful super seniors.
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