DJ Uiagalelei details how passing coordinator Kyle Richardson has helped his game

On3 imageby:Dan Morrison•07/21/22•

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After playing a fantastic game against Notre Dame in relief of Trevor Lawrence in 2020, expectations surrounding Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei went through the roof. In 2021, he failed to live up to those expectations, which has led to concerns going into 2022.

Clemson is going through several changes to its coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season too. That includes Kyle Richardson, who was named the team’s new passing game coordinator. Now, DJ Uiagalelei has detailed how Richardson has helped his game ahead of the 2022 season.

“He has done a good job being a pass game coordinator, him and Coach Streeter, working together,” said DJ Uiagalelei. “I think the biggest thing for me knowing with Coach Rich is the comfortability level with him. I have a great relationship with him and Coach Streeter. Just having open conversations with him and being able to speak my mind, being able to have him speak his mind to me and just be able to have those open conversations to where we have that comfortability level with each other.”

Out of high school, DJ Uiagalelei was a five-star recruit. He was given the task of taking over for Trevor Lawrence, arguably the best player in Clemson football history. With more experience and a new perspective, he hopes to live up to expectations on the field. He, undeniably, has all the physical tools to dominate.

2022 will be Kyle Richardson’s seventh season on staff at Clemson, including working with quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and DJ Uiagalelei. This will be his first season as the passing game coordinator, though. The Tigers lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs. This prompted Dabo Swinney to make internal promotions on the coaching staff. Richardson was one of those promotions.

Whether DJ Uiagalelei and Kyle Richardson can team up to create a dominant force in the passing game remains to be seen. Clemson needs them to find success if they want to reassert their dominance over the ACC.