DJ Uiagalelei: Pronunciation, Ethnicity, Stats, Brother and High School

DJ Uiagalelei is an American football quarterback known for his powerful arm, impressive physical presence and college football career with Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State. His full name is David John Uiagalelei, and he became a highly regarded quarterback prospect during his time at St. John Bosco High School in California.

Fans frequently search for DJ Uiagalelei’s pronunciation, ethnicity, career statistics, younger brother and high school background. His Samoan heritage and unusual surname have also attracted considerable attention among football supporters.

How to Pronounce DJ Uiagalelei’s Name?

DJ Uiagalelei’s last name can be challenging for football fans to pronounce because of its spelling.

His surname is pronounced “oo-ee-AHN-guh-luh-lay.” The pronunciation has also been included in Clemson’s official football media materials.

His full name is David John Uiagalelei, although he is widely known as DJ. During his Clemson career, he also became associated with the nickname “Big Cinco.”

The pronunciation of Uiagalelei became a popular search topic when he transferred to Florida State in 2024. Fans who followed his college career wanted to learn how to say his name correctly.

What Is DJ Uiagalelei’s Ethnicity?

DJ Uiagalelei is of Samoan descent on his father’s side and German heritage on his mother’s side.

His family has strong connections to Polynesian culture. His parents’ family backgrounds also connect to the migration of Samoan families to Hawaii and mainland California.

DJ was born in California and grew up in the United States. However, his Samoan heritage remains an important part of his family identity.

He has previously spoken about the importance of Polynesian representation in American college football. His success also helped highlight the growing influence of Polynesian athletes in the sport.

DJ Uiagalelei Stats and College Football Career

DJ Uiagalelei played college football for three major programs: Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State.

He entered college football as a highly rated quarterback prospect. His strong arm and ability to make deep throws helped him earn opportunities at some of the country’s most recognizable programs.

Here is a breakdown of his college passing statistics:

Across his five college seasons, Uiagalelei recorded 9,384 passing yards, 61 passing touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 53 games.

Clemson Tigers

Uiagalelei began his college career at Clemson in 2020. He initially played behind Trevor Lawrence but received starting opportunities when Lawrence was unavailable.

His performances against Boston College and Notre Dame attracted considerable attention. He completed 78 of 117 passes for 914 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions during his freshman season.

In 2021 and 2022, he became Clemson’s starting quarterback. His best statistical season with the Tigers came in 2022, when he recorded 2,521 passing yards and 22 touchdowns.

Oregon State Beavers

After three seasons at Clemson, Uiagalelei transferred to Oregon State for the 2023 season.

The move gave him an opportunity to continue developing as a starting quarterback. He responded with one of his strongest college seasons.

He finished the campaign with 2,638 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games.

Florida State Seminoles

Uiagalelei transferred to Florida State for the 2024 season.

He started the Seminoles’ first five games before suffering a season-ending injury. He finished the campaign with 1,065 passing yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions.

His Florida State season was shorter than expected because of the injury.

Who Is DJ Uiagalelei’s Brother?

DJ Uiagalelei’s younger brother is Matayo Uiagalelei, who is also an American football player.

Matayo plays defensive end for the Oregon Ducks. Unlike DJ, who developed as a quarterback, Matayo established himself as a defensive prospect.

The brothers attended the same high school, St. John Bosco in California. Their football journeys have attracted attention because both developed into highly regarded college football talents.

Matayo has continued the family’s football tradition at Oregon. His performances on the defensive side have helped establish his own identity in college football.

The brothers’ different positions also make their careers interesting for fans who follow the Uiagalelei family.

Which High School Did DJ Uiagalelei Attend?

DJ Uiagalelei attended St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California.

The school has a strong reputation for developing talented American football players. Uiagalelei became one of its most notable quarterback prospects during his high school career.

He earned national recognition as a five-star recruit and attracted interest from several major college football programs.

During his junior season in 2018, he threw for 3,366 yards and 48 touchdowns. As a senior, he recorded 4,225 passing yards and another 48 touchdowns.

His outstanding performances helped St. John Bosco achieve national recognition.

He eventually committed to Clemson in May 2019 before enrolling at the university in January 2020.

His high school achievements established him as one of the most closely watched quarterback prospects in his recruiting class.

What Happened to DJ Uiagalelei After College?

After completing his college career at Florida State, Uiagalelei entered the professional football pathway.

He went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent.

His professional journey has given him another opportunity to compete at the highest level of American football.

His experience at Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State provided him with several seasons of starting experience and exposure to different offensive systems.

Conclusion

DJ Uiagalelei has built an interesting football career through his performances at Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State. His name is pronounced “oo-ee-AHN-guh-luh-lay,” and he has Samoan and German heritage.

He attended St. John Bosco High School, where he developed into a five-star quarterback recruit. His younger brother, Matayo Uiagalelei, also followed the football path and plays defensive end for Oregon.

With 9,384 career college passing yards and 61 touchdowns, DJ remains a notable quarterback from the 2020 college recruiting class.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do you pronounce DJ Uiagalelei?

His last name is pronounced “oo-ee-AHN-guh-luh-lay.”

2. What is DJ Uiagalelei’s ethnicity?

He is of Samoan descent on his father’s side and German heritage on his mother’s side.

3. How many passing yards does DJ Uiagalelei have in college?

He recorded 9,384 career college passing yards across Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State.

4. Who is DJ Uiagalelei’s brother?

His younger brother is Matayo Uiagalelei, a defensive end for the Oregon Ducks.

5. What high school did DJ Uiagalelei attend?

He attended St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California.

6. How many touchdowns did DJ Uiagalelei score in college?

He recorded 61 passing touchdowns during his college football career.

7. Which college teams did DJ Uiagalelei play for?

He played for Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State.

8. Is DJ Uiagalelei in the NFL?

He joined the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2025.