The Los Angeles Chargers have waived former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, another reminder that the five-star prospect who was supposed to be the next great Tigers signal-caller never quite became one.
Los Angeles chose veteran Trey Lance as Justin Herbert’s backup for 2026. Uiagalelei spent last season on the Chargers’ practice squad after going undrafted in 2025.
He competed this summer and finished the preseason 24-of-42 for 341 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, including a solid 11-of-18 for 141 yards in the finale. It was not enough. The Chargers hope to bring him back to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
For Clemson fans, the news lands with a familiar thud. Uiagalelei arrived in 2020 as the No. 2 overall recruit in his class, behind only Bryce Young and ahead of C.J. Stroud.
He was billed as the heir to Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence. When Lawrence missed time with COVID, the freshman delivered a signature moment: 31-of-40 for 342 yards and two scores in a comeback win at Notre Dame after trailing by 18. For a night, he looked like the future.
Then the future arrived, and it was a disappointment.
In 2021, his first full season as starter, Clemson’s offense stalled. Uiagalelei completed 55.6 percent of his passes for 2,246 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Tigers missed the College Football Playoff for the first time in years.
He improved in 2022 — 2,521 yards, 22 touchdowns, seven interceptions, plus 545 rushing yards — but consistency never arrived. Dabo Swinney benched him for freshman Cade Klubnik in the ACC Championship Game. Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal shortly after.
He finished 22-6 as a Clemson starter with 5,681 passing yards and 36 touchdowns across three seasons. Those numbers are not terrible.
They are also not what a five-star, program-defining quarterback is supposed to produce. The arm talent was real. The accuracy, timing and command of the offense were not. He later said Clemson’s scheme was “very basic” and did not play to his strengths. Fair or not, the results on the field spoke louder.
Uiagalelei bounced to Oregon State, then Florida State, never recapturing the hype that followed him to Death Valley. He went undrafted. Two years later he is still fighting for a practice-squad job.
Clemson moved on quickly with Klubnik. Uiagalelei’s story at Clemson is one of massive expectation meeting ordinary production.
The Chargers’ decision is just the latest chapter. For Tigers fans who once pictured him leading another playoff run, it is a quiet, familiar ending.
