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QB DJ Uiagalelei feels more comfortable running FSU football offense. Here's why
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- QB DJ Uiagalelei feels more comfortable running FSU football offense. Here's why
Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has come a long way after the spring showcase. With plenty of room to grow, he likes his progress after six practices during the 2024 fall camp.
Uiagalelei continues to make strides in taking control of Mike Norvell 's offense. During the showcase, he completed 12 of his 26 passes and threw no touchdowns. Since then, he has been a lot more confident behind center.
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"I feel comfortable," Uiagalelei said.
"I am more comfortable than I was in the spring. As the spring kept going on, I got more comfortable with a lot of different checks in the offensive scheme, the motions, and stuff like that. So I've been in it more and more."
Uiagalelei believes that FSU's offense has improved since the spring. Whether it's staying connected with his receivers, running backs, or tight ends, the Oregon State transfer believes that the momentum shifted in the positive direction throughout the offseason.
"I feel like we've done a good job, man," Uiagalelei said. "From what we did in the spring, we did a really good job in the spring, and I feel like that carried over through summer workouts and now in the fall Camp, so I think as a whole team and offense, I think we did a really good job."
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Uiagalelei admitted that he may not be the loudest one in the room but finds other ways to show his leadership skills. That includes pulling a teammate aside and elevating him. To Uiagalelei, it's another way of building trust from his teammates.
"I'm trying to show up each and every day and be the same person," Uiagalelei said. "Just be a consistent guy, a consistent teammate, and lead by example."
Uiagalelei will be joining his third college team in five seasons.
At Oregon State, he threw for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. In his career at both Clemson and Oregon State, he threw a combined of 8,319 passing yards and 57 touchdowns.
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DJ Uiagalelei gives high praises to his offensive line
It always helps when a quarterback leaves the field with a clean jersey, and Uiagalelei expects nothing less from his offensive line group.
Uiagalelei had nothing but positive things to say about his O-line as it returned three of its five starts and added three more projected starters from the transfer portal.
"I feel like they have done an unbelievable job in the first six days," Uiagalelei said. "They give me tons of time, especially the older guys. Those guys know exactly what they need to do."
When asked about his offensive line, Uiagalelei kept praising them. He also mentioned the defensive line for giving the front five looks during 11-on-11. Tuesday was the first day the Seminoles were in full pads. Uiagalelei explained how much of a difference the line has made in protecting him from the pocket.
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"I'm telling you, our O-line has done an unbelievable job giving me tons of time in the pocket," Uiagalelei said. "Whatever it's five or six men, play-action pass, we do a really good job, and that's hats off to them because we have a really good D-line, and they give great looks each and every day.
DJ Uiagalelei and Brock Glenn continue to push each other
As Uiagalelei is expected to be FSU's starter on Week 0 against Georgia Tech , it is not to ignore redshirt freshman Brock Glenn.
Glenn, who has been having a good camp in his own right, threw a couple of dime passes that impressed Uiagaelei. Uiagalelei enjoys the competitive spirit of the young quarterbacks and is a reflection of the culture inside the quarterback room.
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"Brock is an unbelievable guy and quarterback," Uiagalele said. "He made a couple of amazing throws today, and his throws throughout this whole fall camp were amazing. He comes into work each and every day and pushes all of us, and I think that's just kind of like the culture in our room."
Glenn appeared in five games last season for the Seminoles and completed 224 yards. Other quarterbacks in the group include Luke Kromenhoek, Trever Jackson, Michael Grant, and Dylan McNamara.
Florida State football schedule 2024
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Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at noon., ESPN
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Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
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Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
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Sept. 21 vs. California
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Sept. 28 at SMU
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Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
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Oct. 18 at Duke
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Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
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Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
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Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
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Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
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Nov. 30: Florida
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Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD= ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DJ Uiagalelei says Florida State football offense has improved
