There’s Another Uiagalelei @SJB_Football But He’s Not a QB
There’s another Uiagalelei at St. John Bosco HS. He looks a lot like older brother D.J., who is now set to become the full-time starter at quarterback for Clemson this fall. The younger Matayo checks in at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, but he would rather chase quarterbacks than be one.
He’s pretty good at chasing them too. Uiagalelei is the No. 3 player in the Class of 2023 in California. Despite just finishing his sophomore season, Uiagalelei has a number of very impressive FBS offers. One of those, of course, came from big brother’s school – Clemson.
Where the young Uiagalelei ends up is anyone’s guess right now. Even he hasn’t made a list of favorites as of yet, but of his nearly two dozen offers he does like USC and Oregon. He grew up a Ducks fan and likes the atmosphere in Los Angeles.
Whoever lands Uiagalelei will get one of the best prospects in the country. Plus, they may have to figure out where to play him. In addition to his skills as an edge rusher, Uiagalelei makes for an imposing, athletic tight end.
TE or DE?
With Uiagalelei’s size and soft hands, St. John Bosco will utilize him as a tight end as well. His athleticism is evident and was put on display in recent 7-on-7 competitions. Here’s one clip where he works a simple slant in the red zone and makes a catch in traffic.
At 6-5 to 6-6 and near 260 pounds, Uiagalelei already has NFL size. He was recently clocked at 4.8 in the 40-yard dash which is a solid showing for an athlete that is in tenth grade. Uiagalelei will almost surely get even faster making it even more difficult for college coaches to project his position at the next level.
Just Visiting
Uiagalelei spent the early part of June taking a number of visits to prospective campuses. He visited five programs that each has something to offer to the St. John Bosco player known as @YoungConcrete on Twitter.
The Braves TE/DE visited Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, and USC. He was able to work out on both offense and defense at Clemson and there is the possibility of playing with his brother there. A trip to Tuscaloosa showed Uiagalelei the potential of winning a national championship. At Ohio State, he was introduced to Larry Johnson, the Buckeyes’ defensive line coach and one of the best in the country at developing talent.
Decisions, Decisions
Don’t expect any decisions on a commitment from Uiagalelei in the immediate future. When it does come time for a decision, the choice will likely be based on two factors. The first is player development and the second is geography.
Uiagalelei will choose a program that will help him continue to develop his skills and prepare him for the ultimate goal – the NFL. The other factor, geography, doesn’t mean Uiagalelei wants to stay close to home. He does, however, favor the big city over schools located in a more country-like setting.
The 2023 prospect also has his sights set on a career in music as a producer. If you’re going to develop that talent as well, you need to be in a city where the artists are located.
For now though, Uiagalelei will continue what he does best – working hard.
