CLEMSON, S.C. — D.J. Uiagalelei had the film room to himself just before 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, when Clemson coach Dabo Swinney came in and shut the door. Quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter had just reached out, telling the true freshman QB that he needed to see him. But when Swinney walked in, Uiagalelei’s antenna immediately went up.
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“His face kind of looked like I was in trouble,” Uiagalelei said Saturday after No. 1 Clemson defeated Boston College 34-28, overcoming an 18-point deficit for the biggest home comeback in program history. “I was like, ‘Dang. What did I do? Did I like a picture on Twitter I wasn’t supposed to like? Did I tweet something wrong? Did I not finish through the line or something at practice? Did I not carry out my fake?’”
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No, none of that, but Swinney brought jarring news and a big change of plans for the former five-star prospect from California.
Trevor Lawrence, the Tigers’ star junior quarterback, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and would be out against the Eagles. As Swinney announced Saturday, Lawrence will also miss next week’s showdown at Notre Dame.
Swinney put the offense in No. 5’s hands. To remain undefeated, it would take every bit of effort from the Tigers behind Uiagalelei and senior running back Travis Etienne and a defense that couldn’t get BC off the field until it redeemed itself.
But at the time, Uiagalelei just responded:
‘“Oh, shoot. I had no clue.”
Uiagalelei first called his mom, Tausha, then a former coach and his dad, Dave. When Swinney wrapped up the conversation in the film room, he told Uiagalelei how excited he was to see him play. Lawrence checked in, too, encouraging Uiagalelei to call with any questions. The game plan wouldn’t be changed at this point. Uiagalelei would have just one practice and a walk-through.
Uiagalelei woke up Saturday and touched base with his mom again. Lawrence sent him a text message expressing full confidence.
And Uiagalelei delivered, going 30-of-41 passing for 342 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a 30-yard run on a zone read in the third quarter.
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Clemson always knew that Uiagalelei was going to be its quarterback of the near future, with Lawrence heading to the NFL as the likely No. 1 pick after this season. But in getting an early glimpse Saturday, the Tigers confirmed what they’ve seen in practice. Now he’ll need to carry that magic to South Bend, Ind.
“He’s just special that way, and we’ve seen that,” Swinney said. “He’s just not overwhelmed. At all. A very confident kid, who knows who he is.”
As well as Uiagalelei played, Boston College took it to Clemson in the first half, building a 28-10 lead by the second quarter and triggering early upset alerts across the country. Credit Eagles quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who carved up the Tigers’ secondary. And after Uiagalelei and Etienne fumbled on an exchange near the goal line, Brandon Sebastian returned the ball 97 yards for a touchdown. BT Potter’s 50-yard field goal before half cut Clemson’s deficit to 15.
“Being down 18, that’s not really a lot of points,” Uiagalelei said after the game, casually sipping a drink through a straw.
Uiagalelei showed poise from Clemson’s first drive. He moved Clemson with a few handoffs and intermediate throws. On first down from the Eagles’ 35, they brought pressure, but he was ready, connecting with Etienne for a memorable first career passing touchdown. Etienne on Saturday made most of his impact in the passing game (7 catches for 140 yards) but he also became the ACC’s all-time leading rusher, breaking the 42-year-old record of NC State’s Ted Brown in the third quarter. He finished with 84 yards and a TD on the ground.
In the second half, Clemson came back fast. Uiagalelei, 6-4, 250 pounds, pulled down the ball and ran it in for the score. Then he found wide receiver Amari Rodgers for an 8-yard touchdown to quickly pull the Tigers within two points.
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Etienne’s 17-yard run with 11:34 to play gave Clemson the lead. The Tigers were going to attempt a two-point conversion, but it devolved into a debacle, as Swinney called it, and Potter missed the extra point.
Clemson’s defense came through, shutting out Boston College in the second half. It made a key stop on fourth down, and freshman Bryan Bresee forced a late safety, wrapping up 24 consecutive points for Clemson.
Offensive coordinator Tony Elliott had told Etienne before the game that Uiagalelei would be watching his body language and leaning on his leadership.
“I told Travis in the locker room that I saw the culmination of what I’ve been pushing him so hard for,” Elliott said. “He put it all together.”
In addition to Lawrence, the Tigers were without key linebackers James Skalski and Mike Jones Jr. They also played minus sophom*ore receiver Frank Ladson Jr., who injured his hip early in the week. Swinney expects him to be ready for Notre Dame. Clemson also went without any meaningful contribution from sophom*ore receiver Joseph Ngata, who still hasn’t been able to put together a full week of full-speed practice after suffering an abdominal strain in September.
In their absence, Rodgers had seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, while Cornell Powell led all receivers with a career-high 11 receptions for 105 yards.
“On Tuesday, he was really, really challenged by Coach Swinney,” Elliott said. “Coach was really making the point to get on him and really, really challenge him that every play is 100 miles an hour, as fast as we go.”
Clemson will hit the practice field Sunday because Tuesday is an NCAA-mandated off day for Election Day. Certain topics of concern include penalties and Clemson biting on a fake field goal on fourth-and-2. Junior defensive end Xavier Thomas negated Baylon Spector’s interception with a targeting penalty.
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Perhaps it was fitting for Uiagalelei that his pal and roommate, Bresee, caused the game-sealing safety. Bresee gave credit to defensive coordinator Brent Venables for the call, drawing the protection one way and leaving Bresee open to get to the QB.
“I saw the quarterback, and I knew just from watching film and stuff that he liked to get around to the outside when he scrambled,” Bresee said. “It’s awful about what’s going on with Trevor. But it was awesome hearing that my roommate was going to be out there and one of my best friends here was going to be able to play and start his first college game.”
Uiagalelei and Bresee shared a moment together after the game, most likely unaware that the comeback victory in Death Valley topped the previous biggest, when the Tigers came from 17 down to beat Virginia in 1966. Uiagalelei, whose parents were in the stands and got plenty of air time on ABC, was the last one off the field following an interview.
The broadcasters named Etienne the Leather Helmet Award Winner, given to the MVP each year between Clemson and Boston College going back to 2008, in memory of Boston College’s Charlie O’Rourke and Clemson’s Banks McFadden.
But Etienne had other plans.
He gave it to Uiagalelei, who even heard this week from his favorite player, Reggie Bush, and who will be asked even more of next Saturday.
“He just came out there and showed the world what he has in store for him and his future,” Etienne said. “Y’all have seen him out there. I think the sky is the limit for this guy.”
(Photo: Josh Morgan / USA Today)
Grace Raynor is a staff writer for The Athletic covering recruiting and southeastern college football. A native of western North Carolina, she graduated from the University of North Carolina. Follow Grace on Twitter @gmraynor
