DJ Uiagalelei QB Florida State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
DJ Uiagalelei QB Florida State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.87 seconds (40%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.7 DOB: 04/17/2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer | |
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.87 seconds (40%*) | |
| Age: 23.7 DOB: 04/17/2001 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 80.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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74% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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79% |
| Short Passing: |
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71% |
| Medium Passing: |
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72% |
| Long Passing: |
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77% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
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67% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#267
Position rank:
#19
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| College Games: 52 College Snaps: 2910 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#43
Pos Rank:
#1
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 99/100
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| Ovr Rank: #2 Pos Rank: #1 | ||
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Will Levis - Kentucky |
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66% |
| Jack Coan - Notre Dame |
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64% |
| Aidan O'Connell - Purdue |
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61% |
Draft Profile: Bio
DJ Uiagalelei, hailing from St. John Bosco High School, was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and earned a 5-star grade from 247 Sports. Opting to join Clemson, Uiagalelei quickly made an impact in his freshman year.
In 2020, as a freshman, Uiagalelei appeared in 9 games, throwing for 914 yards with a completion rate of 65.5%, 5 touchdowns, and a QB rating of 102.7. His sophomore year in 2021 saw action in 13 games, passing for 2,245 yards and 9 touchdowns, with a completion rate of 55%. He also added 419 rushing yards.
During his junior year in 2022, he played 13 games, amassing 2,520 passing yards and 22 touchdowns with a completion rate of 61.9%. He also ran for 664 yards. Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State for his senior year, where he played 12 games, threw for 2,621 yards and 21 touchdowns, achieving a 57% completion rate and adding 275 rushing yards.
At the start of 2024, Uiagalelei transferred to Florida State. He will be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer and is set to replace Jordan Travis, who has exhausted his eligibility. Uiagalelei brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the Seminoles, aiming to build on his collegiate campaign from his time at Oregon State.
Over his career, Uiagalelei totaled 8,319 passing yards and 57 touchdowns, with 1,132 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He was a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist in 2023 and was named to the All-ACC Academic Team twice and the ACC Honor Roll three times.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Shows strong pre-snap awareness, effectively identifying defensive mismatches.
- Confident passer with good accuracy when in rhythm, improved ball placement over the years.
- Stands tall in the pocket, displaying toughness and a strong build to withstand contact.
- Elite size (standing 6-4 and weighing in at over 250 lbs) and athleticism for an NFL quarterback, fluid mover despite his large frame.
- Possesses possibly the strongest arm in football arm capable of making throws on the move and delivering deep passes. Some scouts have seen him throw it 85 yards!
- Can execute touch passes well, allowing receivers to compete for the ball.
- Significant experience with 35 games at Clemson and 12 at Oregon State, providing valuable game-time exposure.
- Valuable in red-zone situations as a powerful runner, difficult to bring down due to his size.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Inconsistent stride in his mechanics, leading to accuracy issues.
- Struggles with full-field reads and decision-making post-snap.
- Accuracy diminishes when throwing into tight windows; relies on receivers' acrobatic catches.
- Long, winding throwing motion increases room for error and affects stability.
- Tends to be stationary in the pocket, making him an easy target for defenders.
Scouting Report: Summary
DJ Uiagalelei's college career has been a mix of high potential and inconsistent performance. His ridiculously strong arm and experience make him an intriguing prospect for NFL teams. However, his inconsistent mechanics and decision-making need some serious refinement.
At the next level, Uiagalelei's prototypical size and athleticism will be assets, but he must improve his accuracy and pocket presence to become an NFL starter and not just an athlete with upside.
Uiagalelei's future in the NFL likely starts as a developmental project with the potential to evolve into a solid backup or even a starting quarterback, provided he can refine his mechanics and decision-making skills. Boom-bust type prospect who once again will have the spotlight on him while playing at Florida State.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
DJ Uiagalelei percentiles vs other Quarterbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate DJ Uiagalelei (Overall Rank)
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.