Uiagalelei On Lessons Learned From Lawrence, Also Likes to See How Far He Can Throw Ball in Game

Many of the most talented high school quarterback prospects tend to go to school at a place where they can see the field the fastest.

Not D.J. Uiagalelei. The nation’s top quarterback prospects in the 2020 recruiting class chose to go to Clemson. Where he knew all along that he would be sitting for a season behind generational talent Trevor Lawrence.

Instead of going somewhere he could start as a true freshman, Uiagalelei chose to go and learn. That year he spent watching Lawrence, and learning for the the top pick in last April’s NFL Draft was invaluable, as according to Uiagalelei, he picked up quite a few helpful tips along the way.

“There’s a bunch of stuff,” Uiagalelei said at the ACC Kickoff. “I think the one thing I’ll touch on is how to become a true professional of the game off the field. The way Trevor handled different things off the field, how he dealt with media, how he dealt going around town. He couldn’t be like himself, he had to uphold to a Clemson quarterback where he maybe couldn’t do the regular things that a college athlete or college student couldn’t do.”

Just going out in public was something Lawrence had to be leery of and Uiagalelei said watching Lawrence has helped himself learn to handle things more like a professional.

“He couldn’t go down to Chipotle and get some food or it would turn into an autograph session,” Uiagalelei said. “Just different things like that, things about how to become a true professional of the game.”

When asked to compare his game to that of Lawrence’s, Uiagalelei said he thinks there are many similarities. However, there is one distinct difference and that is the size Uiagalelei brings to the table.

“Some things I feel like are definitely unique, I think I’m a little bit bigger, heavier than Trevor,” Uiagalelei said. “About 250 pounds. That might be something a little bit more unique. Trevor does a lot of great things. But I feel like our games are a little bit similar. I like to throw the deep ball a lot. I like to see how far I can throw it in a game. That might be one big thing.”

Although, when it comes right down to it, they both share one very important value and that is their love for the game itself.

“I feel like for the most part there’s not a lot of differences, but we just both like to play football.