Tony Tokarz describes how DJ Uiagalelei prepares at an 'elite' level for FSU

Florida State quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz has been impressed with how DJ Uiagalelei has approached this offseason. A transfer from Oregon State and former five-star recruit coming out of high school, Uiagalelei is set to spend his fifth and final college season as the Seminoles’ starting QB.

He has big shoes to fill as he will take over for Jordan Travis, who helped FSU to finish the regular season undefeated in 2023. Florida State will also be without its top three pass catchers from a year ago.

However, with that Tokarz has seen out of Uiagalelei so far, he’s confident the quarterback will have the offense rolling come kickoff.

“I think you see continued growth just from when he’s come in from the spring, getting the time in the offseason with the guys in summer OTAs and now through camp,” the coach said. “He prepares at an elite level. His approach is unbelievable. It’s something that we were hoping for bringing him in. Super mature, constantly in the film room. It’s important to him. This is what he wants to do and it shows.”

Uiagalelei began his career at Clemson and was the starter for two seasons before being benched in favor of Cade Klubnik in the 2022 ACC Championship Game. That led to him transferring to Oregon State in the offseason and having somewhat of a resurgence this past season.

The Beavers got off to an 8-2 start to the season and were ranked as high as No. 10 in the AP poll before dropping their final three games. DJ Uiagalelei finished the year with a career-best 2,638 yards passing to go with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Now as he prepares to take over at Florida State, he’s looking more and more comfortable every day as the system sinks in for him. That’s the area that Tokarz identified as seeing the most growth from his QB.

“I think just the comfort and the operation of the system,” he said. “That is a repetition thing and I’ve said it before — he knows a lot of football. He’s been under a few different offensive coordinators and knows a lot of defense and everything too.

“Just figuring out what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. Why we’re attacking in a certain way and then just developing that comfort in that. Part of that, too, is just the players and personnel. Developing the rhythm and the timing with the guys around him. We’re starting to see that.”

As Uiagalelei continues to build his connection with receivers such as Alabama transfer Malik Benson, the team’s confidence in him should only grow higher. He’ll have to be ready quickly as the Seminoles kick off the season on Aug. 24 against Georgia Tech.