Everyone said the same thing about Clemson and D.J. Uiagalelei while watching the ACC Championship Game unfold on Saturday night.
Clemson went 3-and-out and gained just seven yards on their first two possessions against North Carolina. They had fallen behind 7-0 to the Tar Heels.
For their third possession, Clemson made a quarterback switch to Cade Klubnik. It was the third time this season that Klubnik had replaced a struggling Uiagalelei during a game.
Klubnik stepped in and immediately invigorated the Clemson offense. He led the team on three straight touchdown drives.
After watching what Klubnik did, many viewers immediately said that Klubnik had just won the job.
DJ Uiagalelei gonna need to made a LinkedIn account tomorow morning . Cade klubnik keeping the QB1 job pic.twitter.com/zsP6AEX7oF
— John (@iam_johnw) December 4, 2022
DJ Uiagalelei is either entering the NFL Draft or the transfer portal.
I imagine his draft outlook is bleak right now. I think plenty of P5 schools would love to take a chance on him.
Chip Kelly needs to replace DTR at UCLA. I bet Oregon would take a look too.
— Kevin Walsh Jr. (@TheKevinWalsh) December 4, 2022
Wouldn’t be suprised if you see DJ Uiagalelei in the Transfer portal this week he got benched
Cade Klubnik 11/12 156 Yards 1 TD
This should’ve happened at the beginning of the season Klubnik is a superstar
— Recruiting Edits (@614EditzDSGN) December 4, 2022
With Dabo Swinney’s decision to go with Cade Klubnik tonight, you have to think that Clemson QB, DJ Uiagalelei, is officially in the transfer portal
— College Football Watcher (@CFBWatcher) December 4, 2022
Additionally, many people argued that if Clemson had Klubnik starting all season instead of Uiagalelei, they would be a playoff team instead of a 2-loss squad.
🚨 CONFIRMED 🚨: Clemson Football coaching staff has cost the school a shot at the National Championship by keeping future bartender DJ Uiagalelei in the starting lineup for 13 Weeks over Cade Klubnik
— B (@BugattiBsBurner) December 4, 2022
Dabo swinney would be playing for a spot in the playoffs right now if he had the guts to bench DJ uiagalelei 4 weeks ago pic.twitter.com/Yo8JMcqw3E
— John (@iam_johnw) December 4, 2022
If I’m a #Clemson fan I am so pissed off right now about what this 2022-23 season could’ve been if Dabo’s ego didnt get in the way…he made the right decision with Kelly Bryant & Trevor Lawrence & the wrong decision with DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik…this season is 100% on Dabo
— Artie Schweitzer (@ArtieSchweitzer) December 4, 2022
Appreciate Dabo wanting to give DJ Uiagalelei as many opps as possible to realize his projected potential…
But you can't help but wonder if #Clemson would be jockeying for a Playoff spot tonite if Clemson had tabbed Cade Klubnik sooner. #ACCChampionship
— Bonnie Bernstein (@BonnieBernstein) December 4, 2022
A junior from Southern California, Uiagalelei has often been viewed as the weak link on an otherwise strong Clemson team the last three seasons. Uiagalelei went 8/29 for 99 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Clemson’s loss to South Carolina, which likely led Dabo Swinney to have his QB on the proverbial short leash against UNC.
