DJ Uiagalelei took the college football world as a freshman in 2020 but has seen his draft stock go through a roller coaster over the last two seasons and ultimately transferred from Clemson to Oregon State this year. When can Uiagalelei declare for the NFL Draft?
NFL Eligibility Rules
In the NFL, players become eligible for the draft after completing at least three years of college football or are three years removed from graduating high school.
They must also declare for the draft by a specific deadline, which is typically in January of the year they wish to enter the NFL Draft.
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Uiagalelei was part of the 2020 recruiting class, along with C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson. They were all just drafted at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft. Uiagalelei was also eligible for last year’s draft but stayed and transferred to Oregon State.
As part of the COVID rules, Uiagalelei has an additional year of eligibility. Uiagalelei can play this season and one more additional season if he chooses to.
Uiagalelei’s Scouting Report
While Uiagalelei’s stock has dropped some since his sensational freshman debut, the talent is pretty evident. PFN Draft Analayst Ian Valentino’s scouting report on Uiagalelei reveals a talented prospect who is still searching for more consistency.
Strengths
- Will have tremendous experience under his belt by the end of his career, playing 35 games at Clemson plus garnering the time he’ll have at Oregon State.
- Massive frame that towers over most teammates besides trench players. He’s difficult to bring down as a rusher and is a red-zone weapon.
- Shows aggressiveness when targeting downfield receivers, keeping defenses on their toes, and unsure as to whether they can afford to stack the box.
- Touch passes in 2020 and 2022 were better than in 2021.
- Allows his receivers to compete for the ball relatively well for a variance passer.
- Brings value as a big-play hunter who can overcome inconsistency to deliver chunk gains in the blink of an eye.
- Strong arm that fires passes into windows.
Weaknesses
- Is a statue in the pocket who doesn’t move his feet unless he intends to run downhill to pick up yards. He can be an easy target for defenders who get penetration.
- Struggled with consistent accuracy at Clemson, largely due to his inability to control the amount of touch he puts on the ball. It’s unpredictable whether the pass will be a soft touch attempt or a bullet.
- Shows a long, winding passing motion that starts low and has too much room for error. Shortening this could bring stability to his accuracy.
- More dependent on his supporting cast than he is a creator for the offense, as he’s not a dynamic runner or a reliable enough passer to sustain a consistent offense.
- Has issues leading his receivers upfield, often throwing to where they are rather than where they’re going.