An anonymous coach feels that Clemson’s next starting quarterback lacks a weapon that former Tiger Trevor Lawrence gave them in the running game.
The D.J. Uiagalelei era begins this coming season and many who watched his brief stint last season, when Lawrence was out due to Covid, against Boston College and Notre Dame, saw the ability that he brings to the table. One part of his game that is drawing questions is his running game and whether it could hurt them down the road.
According to Athlon Sports preseason magazine, and anonymous opposing coach questions how effective Uiagalelei can be in the Tigers running game, and the quarterback run has been a major staple of the Clemson offense since the days of Tajh Boyd.
“The next man up at QB is really, really good,” the coach said. “I’m not sure if he’s the same sort of running threat that Trevor Lawrence was, which is something to watch. I think it’s going to be a different offense because whenever they got in trouble or got out-schemed, they’d just run Trevor. This kid is a giant, a very different athlete.”
This is not the first time the new guy on Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s block has drawn questions from others ourtside of the program. When former Tiger quarterback Deshaun Watson tore his ACL during his first season some questioned his durabilty and whether he would hold up.
The next heir apparent, Lawrence drew questions about whether or not he could live up to the hype that surrounded him coming in and whether or not his lanky frame would be able to hold up against college defenses.
If those situations are any indication of how this may play out then you can be assured that Uiagalelei will surpass all questions and expectations just like the former two did.
In Uiagalelei’s two starts last season he went 30 of 41 for 342 yards, and two touchdowns against Boston College and 29 of 44 for 439 yards and another two touchdowns in a double overtime loss to Notre Dame.
