DJ Uiagalelei played high school football at Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, where he was considered a consensus five-star quarterback. For his career, he threw for 10,496 yards and 127 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions. As a junior, he named national offensive player of the year by USA Today and led St. John Bosco to a state title as a senior. He backed up Trevor Lawrence as a freshman but started two games when Lawrence contracted COVID. He started the Tigers’ top-five game at Notre Dame and threw for 439 yards in a 34-28 loss. Following the 2022 season, including after he was replaced as a starter late in the season, Uiagalelei entered the Transfer Portal. He is the son of Tausha and Dave “Big Dave” Uiagalelei. Dave Uiagalelei was a bodyguard for superstars such as Rihanna, Meek Mill and DJ Khaled. His younger brother, Matayo Uiagalelei, is a consensus five-star recruit as a defensive lineman in the 2023 recruiting class. His cousin is Nico Iamaleava, a five-star quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class. Uiagalelei is a communication major.