Clemson is at risk. Georgia made the Tigers and quarterback Uiagalelei look bad.
Trevor Lawrence was present at one of the most stiflingly packed athletic events in Charlotte’s history on Saturday night, along with almost 74,000 other attendees at Bank of America Stadium. However, Lawrence did not wear the orange uniform of Clemson, unlike the three years prior to his selection as the first overall pick in the NFL draft in April. He was on a weekend break from his real job, but he was merely an observer. And it turned out to be Clemson’s biggest issue as the team lost 10-3 to Georgia in the Duke’s Mayo Classic on Saturday night, exhibiting mostly poor offensive play.
D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson’s 6-foot-4, 250-pound sophomore quarterback who played well last year as Lawrence’s backup, looked like a high school freshman on his first day of class. To his credit, the quarterback took the blame after the game, claiming everyone else on the offense played “great.” Said Uiagalelei: “I didn’t play very good today, everyone could see that and it showed … It’s on me. … I just missed throws. I’ve gotta play better. It’s as simple as that.” Uiagalelei was indecisive. Jittery. Slow. He was sacked seven times. He never got his own team into the end zone. And he got no help from an outmatched Clemson offensive line, or a paltry running game (two total rushing yards!) or a Clemson coaching staff that made no halftime adjustments worth mentioning.
On a boisterous Saturday night, Uiagalelei did manage to throw one touchdown pass, but it was to the opposing team. In the second quarter, Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith grabbed a throw from Uiagalelei 74 yards the other way after he jumped a route in front of a Clemson wide receiver who was supposed to cross in front of Smith’s face. The 74,187 spectators were split almost evenly between the red and orange-clad groups after that play, with half of them going crazy and the other half losing it.
