CLEMSON, S.C. — Under new NCAA guidelines, Monday was the first day players could officially put their name in the transfer portal, which allows other schools to talk to them about transferring.
In all, nine Clemson players placed their name in the transfer portal, including quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. The junior, who is expected to graduate from Clemson next week, was pulled for a third time this year in last Saturday’s ACC Championship Game.
However, this time it came on the game’s third possession and Uiagalelei never returned, as freshman Cade Klubnik earned MVP honors in leading the No. 7 Tigers to a 39-10 victory over North Carolina.
Besides Uiagalelei, Clemson linebacker LaVonte Bentley entered the portal, as did running back Kobe Pace, wide receiver E.J. Williams, cornerback Fred Davis, quarterback Billy Wiles and defensive end Kevin Swint. Linebacker Sergio Allen and wide receiver Dacari Collins also officially entered the portal on Monday, but they announced early in the regular season their intentions of leaving the team and entering the portal.
As for Uiagalelei, his Clemson career ends with a 22-6 record as a starter, which includes helping the Tigers win the 2022 ACC Championship. He also guided the Tigers to 14 straight wins, which at the time was the nation’s longest winning streak.
In 2022, he helped lead Clemson to an 11-2 record and a No. 7 ranking in the College Football Playoff Poll. He completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,521 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran for 545 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Following the ACC Championship Game, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced Klubnik will be the starting quarterback when the Tigers face No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.
