Oregon State QB Uiagalelei enters portal. UCLA QB Moore, NC State QB Morris reveal transfer plans
By The Associated Press
Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and his former high school and college teammate in Clemson receiver Beaux Collins announced plans to enter the transfer portal Thursday as did UCLA freshman quarterback Dante Moore.
North Carolina State quarterback MJ Morris said he, too, will join the portal, an announcement coming less than a month after he opted out for the rest of the season to preserve his redshirt option despite being the starter.
Moore, the former five-star recruit, told 247 Sports he will enter the portal when the window for underclassmen to be eligible opens Monday. Moore, who went to high school in Detroit, was thrust into a prominent role with the Bruins this season and struggled. He threw 11 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in nine games.
It’s the second time Uiagalelei will change schools after playing his first three seasons at Clemson. He left after he got pulled early in the Tigers’ 39-10 victory over North Carolina at the ACC championship game in 2022 in favor of current Clemson starter Cade Klubnik.
Uiagalelei posted his decision on social media, thanking the fans, his coaches and teammates for welcoming him this season. He was in the portal soon after. As a graduate, he does not have to wait until the portal period opens Monday for undergrads who want to be immediately eligible next season — like Collins, Moore and Morris.
Uiagalelei finished the year seventh in the Pac 12 Conference with 219 yards passing a game. Uiagalelei completed 57.1 % of his throws for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Uiagalelei’s coach at Oregon State, Jonathan Smith, just took over at Michigan State. The Spartans have had three quarterbacks announce their plans to use the portal, meaning every passer who took a snap for the team this season has either entered the portal or said they plan to do so.
Morris posted a statement to social media Thursday. He will have three years of eligibility remaining after an unusual exit from N.C. State.
He was pressed into duty as a true freshman in 2022 due to injuries before being sidelined by his own, then was elevated to the starting role in early October after the Wolfpack struggled offensively with Virginia transfer Brennan Armstrong as the starter.
Morris guided the Wolfpack to three wins in four starts, including against Clemson and Miami, while throwing seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Coach Dave Doeren said he was surprised that Morris opted to sit out the rest of the season after becoming the starter, even as his father Eddie told WRAL-TV in Raleigh that his son wouldn’t transfer.
Yet Armstrong played much better in his return to the starting lineup, helping N.C. State close with five straight wins and reach nine wins.
Collins played two seasons with Uiagalelei at St. John Bosco High School in California and two more with Clemson.
He was third on the team with 38 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns this season, which ended early because of a football injury. Collins thanked his family, friends, teammates and coaches for his three years at Clemson on social media.
“After deep thought and consideration, I have plans to enter the transfer portal,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Collins is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior from Los Angeles, ends his Clemson career with 91 catches for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons.
Other notable players entering the portal Thursday:
— Washington State receiver Josh Kelly, who led the Cougars with 61 catches for 923 yards and eight touchdowns.
— San Diego State tight end Mark Redman, the Aztecs’ leading receiver with 27 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns, and cornerback Dez Malone.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
