Clemson Football: 3 takeaways from Georgia defeat in Charlotte

2. There is no easy transition at quarterback for Clemson

The string of quarterback luck at Clemson football that has extended from Tajh Boyd to Deshaun Watson to Trevor Lawrence was never guaranteed to last forever, even as the Tigers have started to pull in five-star talent whenever they wish. Touted as someone with “generational arm strength” out of high school, D.J. Uiagalelei was supposed to be the next person to continue that unbroken chain of success under center.

Last year, Uiagalelei’s star rose further when Clemson went to South Bend and he was forced to start when Trevor Lawrence tested positive for COVID-19. Despite the fact that Clemson lost in an overtime instant classic, Uiagalelei acquitted himself in a performance where he completed two-thirds of his passes and threw for 439 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers.

Against one of the most formidable defenses in the country in the 2021 season opener, however, Uiagalelei showed that he is indeed human. Georgia neutralized Uiagalelei, pressuring the Hawaii native and forcing him into bad decisions all night. It was a wake-up call for Clemson fans who hoped the gravy train would continue forever.

Uiagalelei finished barely above 50 percent passing, going 19-of-37 for 178 yards and interception. More importantly, Uiagalelei failed to engineer a single score in the air. Pressured all night, Uiagalelei finished with negative-22 rushing yards as he was sacked seven times. It was a forgettable performance that showed the young passer still has a lot of room to grow.