Clemson Football: Has DJ Uiagalelei won the second-string QB job?
Has the backup QB position been determined for Clemson football?
The Clemson football team will open up the 2020 season against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons this Saturday evening at Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem.
One of the most intriguing questions from Clemson football fans, especially in the midst of this particular season, has to do with the backup quarterback position behind Trevor Lawrence.
Heading into preseason camp, redshirt freshman Taisun Phommachanh was listed as the backup with true-freshman DJ Uiagalelei listed as third-string on the depth chart. Over the course of the last month, though, things have begun to change in terms of how the Clemson football coaches have been talking about the competition.
Back in July- when Phommachanh was listed as the second-string QB- Clemson Offensive Coordinator Tony Elliott raved about his command and the improvements that the quarterback had made.
"“Taisun is probably a guy that gets lost in the middle right there. He looks like a different dude,” Elliott said via Sports Illustrated. “He’s making all the right reads, all the right throws, he looks in command of the system.”"
But at the season-opening press conference Monday morning, Elliott had a bit of a different tune when he was asked about the backup QB situation.
Tony Elliott on backup QB battle says staff is having some serious conversations about who runs out behind Trevor Lawrence. That will be up to Streeter.
— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) September 7, 2020
Has true-freshman DJ Uiagalelei won the backup QB spot for Clemson football?
It’s not necessarily that Elliott said anything tipping his hand one way or another, but it was the way this was said.
If you really believed it was going to be the veteran who ran out first, you would disclose that information. If the depth chart hadn’t changed since the preseason one that was released, he wouldn’t be keeping it vague. The general nature of this staff has always been to be vague to protect the veteran when competition hasn’t gone in their favor.
All of that being said, Phommachanh may very well still run out first after Lawrence, but it’s clear that Uiagalelei has made up any ground that was lost back his lack of experience.
Next. Game week is finally upon us!. dark
We might see Phommachanh first for the next few weeks, but it seems likely only a matter of time before Uiagalelei wins the position outright.