DJ Uiagalelei reveals the role Jordan Travis played in his transfer to Florida State
Florida State landed a big player out of the transfer portal in quarterback DJ Uiagalelei on Monday, and it turns out it had a little assistance in doing so. Jordan Travis, the Seminoles starting QB from this season, helped sell the program to him.
In an interview with ESPN, Uiagalelei revealed that the conversation he had with Travis played a factor in his decision to commit to FSU.
“He told me that Coach Norvell and [quarterbacks coach Tony] Tokarz are great coaches and coach you hard and will develop you,” Uiagalelei said. “He also said that outside football, they really cared about him as a person.”
Travis told Uiagalelei a story about how the coaching staff reacted during a three-game ACC losing streak in 2022. He revealed that they asked how he was doing as a person and that they were there for him “not just as a coach, but also a friend.”
That’s something that stuck out to Uiagalelei because it’s how he was also treated at Oregon State this past year.
“That’s something that I value and had at Oregon State with Coach [Jonathan] Smith and Coach [Brian] Lindgren,” he said. “…Obviously they are about the right stuff.”
It is the second transfer in as many seasons for Uiagalelei who made the move to Oregon State last offseason after three seasons at Clemson. He went on the have the best year of his career to throw for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the Beavers to an 8-4 record.
He is now the frontrunner to start for Florida State next season with Travis out of eligibility. The Seminoles finished this past season with an undefeated regular season record and ACC title but was left out of the College Football Playoff after Travis suffered a season-ending injury.
Since that snub, FSU has lost quarterbacks Tate Rodemaker and AJ Duffy to the transfer portal. That left Brock Glenn as the lone scholarship quarterback available for the Orange Bowl against Georgia, which the Seminoles lost 63-3.
Despite the rough end to the season, DJ Uiagalelei had his sights set on Florida State from the moment he entered the transfer portal. He expressed his excitement to arrive in Tallahassee and get started helping give the Seminoles another shot at a title.
“Florida State’s offense plays to my strengths,” Uiagalelei said. “They push the ball down the field. They’re going to take deep shots. They have playmakers all around there. Coach Norvell does an unbelievable job scheming for opponents. He’s a guy that’s a smart football mind.”