Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is poised to tower over the college football landscape for the next two seasons. After a precocious freshman season where he won the starting job and led the Tigers to a national title, he projects as the most sure-fire quarterback prospect in the American collegiate system since Andrew Luck. In theory, Lawrence’s exit could include a hand-off to another prodigious talent. On Sunday afternoon, the Tigers got a verbal commitment from the best high school quarterback in the country, D.J. Uiagalelei, who is also the Rivals.com overall No. 1 player in his class. He would enroll at Clemson in 2020, which means he’d overlap with Lawrence for what’s presumed to be the final year of his Tiger career, as he already projects as the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Uiagalelei, 18, announced via a YouTube video on Sunday afternoon, with more than 8,000 people waiting when the program began at noon Pacific. “I’m all in,” he said in the video. “Go Tigers.” This is all God’s work and God’s timing, I am blessed to say I AM 100% COMMITTED!!! ! Happy birthday Mom 💕#FiLaGaNgBuSiNeSS @manecoagency pic.twitter.com/QaU31Rfovt — 🌟 DJ Uiagalelei 🌟 (@DJUiagalelei) May 5, 2019 Uiagalelei’s verbal commitment to Clemson makes the rich exponentially richer, as the 6-foot-4, 235-pound quarterback projects to be a centerpiece of the program that won two of the past three national titles in the long term. The commitment does come with a pinch of caution, as Uiagalelei has maintained that he’s open to a professional baseball career and that he wants to play both sports as long as possible. Will this be another Kyler Murray situation choosing between those two sports? It’s too early to say. But look for Uiagalelei’s decision of whether or not to enroll early at Clemson in the spring of 2020 as a bellwether for which sport he plans on pursuing professionally. If he heads to Clemson to take part in spring practice after his senior football season this fall, it would likely put that sport in the forefront over baseball. Uiagalelei can throw in the mid-90s in baseball and is considered a high-end prospect. Story continues If Uiagalelei stays as a quarterback, he’ll maintain his status as one of the sport’s most intriguing prospects. He’s shined the past four years at the QB Collective camp, which features the country’s top high school quarterbacks coached by NFL coaches, coordinators, and former players. “I’ve never seen a junior in high school as physically gifted as D.J.,” longtime NFL quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who has worked with Uiagalelei at the camp, told Yahoo Sports on Sunday. “He has the body of a Pro Bowl, athletic quarterback. The ball shoots out of his hand. He’s super-powerful, athletic and accurate.” On Sunday afternoon, the Clemson Tigers got a verbal commitment from the best high school quarterback in the country, D.J. Uiagalelei. (Photo credit: Nicolas Lucero/Rivals) Uiagalelei is the latest quarterback prodigy to emerge from St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. He follows Josh Rosen, who went on to star at UCLA and was recently traded from the Arizona Cardinals to the Miami Dolphins. Last season at Bosco, Uiagalelei threw for 3,366 yards and completed just under 70-percent of his passes. He threw 48 touchdown passes and had seven interceptions. Jason Negro, the veteran coach at Bosco who also tutored Rosen, projects an elite ceiling for Uiagalelei. “D.J. is a once-in-a-generation type talent who could transform the QB position because of his unique combination of speed, power, size and athleticism,” Negro said on Sunday. “Coupled with his humility and determination, he could be beyond special at the next level and beyond.” As it projects now, Uiagalelei could have a year to apprentice under Lawrence before getting a shot to win the starting job at Clemson in 2021. While projecting quarterback depth chart years ahead in the era of the Transfer Portal is futile, it’s safe to say there’d be stout competition for Uiagalelei, which includes current Clemson four-star freshman Taisun Phommachanh. Uiagalelei’s first college scholarship offer came from Indiana in sixth grade. His choice came down to Oregon and Clemson, with the Ducks considered a long shot as he’d maintained for more than a year that Clemson was the leader. Uiagalelei pointed to the program’s ethos, which ranged from the slide in the facility to the coaches bowing their head in prayer before meals. “It was just a great atmosphere,” Uiagalelei said this summer of the coaches there. “It feels like I’m talking to a family member.” Through the QB Collective, Uiagalelei has been exposed to NFL minds like Mike Shanahan and Sean McVay and left an impression on them. “This is a guy that multiple NFL coaches could immediately compare his arm talent to starting NFL quarterbacks,” said Richmond Flowers, who founded QB Collective. “Mike Shanahan still asks me about him. You rarely see a kid that age with that level of arm talent. The arm talent and size is rare, but the way he works, buys into it and loves it sets him apart. He doesn’t have an ego or sense of entitlement.” More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>Clemson continued to dominate the college football recruiting trail this weekend, locking up a commitment from the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the 2020 class in five-star D.J. Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei, a 6-foot-5 quarterback out of California, announced his decision on Sunday. He chose the Tigers over Oregon. “My faith is important to me, and the first time I went out there was in June, and that’s what sold me, knowing they’re all big Christians,” Uiagalelei said. “I didn’t commit when I was out there, but that’s when I told myself that’s where I wanted to be.” Uiagalelei will have to sit for at least one season at Clemson, as Trevor Lawrence has two seasons of eligibility remaining. The five-star quarterback is excited to learn. “Learning is not a bad thing for me,” Uiagalelei added. “I want to be out there and compete, but if that means I have to sit behind a leader, I’m fine with that.” Lawrence took to Twitter shortly after his commitment to send his future teammate a message. “Congrats bro!! Best decision you could have made. Let’s go to work,” he wrote. Congrats bro!! Best decision you could have made. Let’s go to work 🐅 @DJUiagalelei pic.twitter.com/6BFLmhxNXO — Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) May 5, 2019 Clemson’s 2020 recruiting class is now ranked the No. 1 overall class in the country. The Tigers have 14 commitments, including four from five-star prospects.<doc-sep>Another day, another five-star commitment for the Clemson Tigers. This defending national champions believe they've found their eventual successor to Trevor Lawrence after landing DJ Uiagalelei (Bellflower, Calif.) on Sunday, the top-ranked quarterback in the 2020 recruiting class “There were a lot of reasons why I chose Clemson,” Uiagalelei told 247Sports. “Like I’ve said before, I felt a spiritual connection with the entire coaching staff and especially coach (Dabo) Swinney when I first visited back in June." Uiagalelei’s commitment gives the Tigers their second No. 1- ranked quarterback prospect in the last three years following Lawrence in the 2018 class. As a true freshman last season, Lawrence led the Tigers to a national championship — the program's second in three years. “This class coming in could be one of the best of all time,” Uiagalelei said. “It’s exciting to be a part of that and we’re not done yet. There are still a lot of players out there that I think will coming to Clemson that will surprise a lot of people.” The 6-foot-5, 243-pound signal caller is the fourth 247Sports Composite five-star to commit to Clemson for 2020, currently the nation's No. 1 class for next year. Here's some of the reaction following Uiagalelei's big decision:<doc-sep>His last name is pronounced eww-ee-unnga-lay-lei and he’s the crown jewel of Clemson’s 2020 recruiting class. DJ Uiagalelei caused Tiger fans nationwide to rejoice by making his commitment known on Sunday, spurning primary competitor Oregon in the process. The 5-star stud from St. John Bosco in Bellflower, California measures in at 6-4, 240 pounds and is the #1 ranked QB in the 2020 class. He is the #13 player overall per the 247Sports Composite despite being criminally underrated by the ESPN scouts. Regardless, due to position, he is the most impactful recruit in this class. His junior year accolades included First Team All-America by Max Preps and USA Today. He was also named Offensive Player of the Year by USA Today. Brandon Streeter is listed as Uiagalelei’s primary recruiter and deserves credit for reeling in another top quarterback recruit. But, make no mistake, this was a group effort. There were many visits, interactions, and casual conversations that proved Clemson’s authenticity to DJ and his large circle of support. This could be illustrated by the many cross country flights that included Dabo, Brandon Streeter, and Jeff Scott. Or, it could be something as simple as Brent Venables’ extended conversation with the Uiagalelei crew during the first of his five day visit during the Spring game. And that’s not to mention the behind the scenes work of support staffers like Thad Turnispeed and Tyler Clements. The Clemson Family is a real thing, and it’s what drove this year’s most prized recruit from Southern California to Clemson, South Carolina. Uiagalelei first came to Clemson in June 2018 during Dabo Swinney Camp. That’s where Clemson officially offered him his scholarship. He returned for the South Carolina game to experience the gameday atmosphere and the Tigers strengthened their lead in the recruitment. Then, Clemson was fortunate DJ got a front row seat to the CFP Championship game in Santa Clara to watch the dismantling of Alabama on college football’s biggest stage. The Spring game extended visit completed the inevitable and Clemson got their top target. Uiagalelei’s arm strength cannot be understated. He can legitimately launch a football 80+ yards (ummm...yea his arm is no joke). But, what makes Uiagalelei special is his ability to combine that arm strength with touch. He can deliver completion after completion to every open window on the football field. He’s also a tested leader, quarterbacking one of the elite football programs in the nation for the past two years in high school. He is also athletic enough to run the read option, throw on the run outside the pocket, and escape pressure - even though he is a natural pocket passer. He’s the best high school quarterback prospect since Trevor Lawrence and was generally regarded as the best high school QB in the country last year regardless of age. Uiagalelei’s toolbox is overflowing, and Clemson will provide him with all the materials to build something great. Fans and coaches will want to monitor his draft status in baseball. Uiagalelei hurls a 95 MPH fastball and projects as a high round draft pick. He has hinted his intentions to pursue college football in the immediate future, however, millions of guaranteed dollars tend to complicate decisions. He will be a two sport athlete should he forego the MLB and attend Clemson. DJ’s commitment builds the momentum the Tiger’s have created on the recruiting trail. He frequently communicates on social media with fellow Tiger targets such as Julian Fleming. His California connection also could inspire fellow Golden State recruits Justin Flowe, Daniyel Ngata, or Elias Ricks to make the move east. Clemson’s 2020 class continues to shape up as its best ever. Watch Uiagalelei’s Hudl film below and celebrate in the comment section! QT’s Take: DJ Uiagalelei is an absolute beast. Don’t let your evaluation of DJ, or any QB going forward, be clouded by Trevor Lawrence. DJ is an elite QB who would’ve been the top QB in the 2019 class as well as the 2020 class. He has a cannon of an arm and can throw it 70 yards easily. He has the arm talent to make all the throws in this offense. He is also developing more touch on the ball so that everything isn’t a rocket. DJ has excellent pocket presence and is tough to bring down. However, he isn’t a statue and can run and surprise you with his athleticism just like Trevor Lawrence. DJ was all about Clemson from the jump and when his father visited campus, he also felt like Clemson was the right fit. But this is a family that places faith and family first and wanted to make a collective decision on their time frame, at their pace. DJ visited with his mom and entire family for an extended visit during the Spring game weekend. This helped solidify Clemson’s position. DJ had committed to taking an official visit to Oregon, helping to raise the recruiting profile of Oregon and connecting with coaches. Oregon did a great job of recruiting DJ and his entire family, but Clemson had built too strong a lead coming off the national championship. DJ has been actively recruiting, but as an official member of the class he will help throw his weight around. Just like Bryan Bresee, DJ is well respected in recruiting circles and his commitment helps push a player like Julian Fleming just a bit closer to Clemson. Celebrate.<doc-sep>
Clemson has its apparent succession plan in place at the quarterback position with the commitment of DJ Uiagalelei, a five-star prospect ranked as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2020. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Uiagalelei has unique size to pair with arm talent that has had him on the scouting radar for several years. The California native, currently starring at football power St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), received a 10-of-10 grade for both arm strength and size from 247Sports, which has identified Uiagalelei as one of the best quarterback prospects ever. "It's all about pure physical traits for DJ," 247Sports Direction of Scouting Barton Simmons explained. "There's a really high floor, low bust potential for a guy that is as gifted from an arm and frame standpoint as DJ is. The production matches, the accuracy is there, and we've really seen his game evolve over the last year or two. So there's reason to believe he's just getting started." Uiagalelei chose the Tigers over Oregon, which hosted the quarterback and his family two weeks ago for the spring game along with two of his childhood icons: Marcus Mariota and Jeremiah Masoli. For Clemson, this commitment not only solidifies the post-Trevor Lawrence era at quarterback but brings into focus what is looking to be the best recruiting class in program history. According to 247Sports' Anna Hickey, the average rating of Clemson's 14 commitments in the 2020 class is 95.72. "This class coming in could be one of the best of all time," Uiagalelei told 247Sports. "It's exciting to be a part of that and we're not done yet. There are still a lot of players out there that I think will be coming to Clemson that will surprise a lot of people." Dabo Swinney and his staff have long been known as a group that doesn't often miss, and after this most recent national championship victory, they've gotten the opportunity to take some really big swings on the trail. The Uiagalelei news comes just days after five-star Demarkcus Bowman announced his commitment to Clemson, giving the Tigers the top two players from the coveted state of Florida, and less than two weeks after Bryan Bresee, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the Class of 2020, chose the Tigers over the likes of Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State. Clemson is expected to be in the mix for the national title in each of the next two years with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, but with Uiagalelei headlining what could be the best recruiting class in the entire country, it's difficult to imagine the Tigers' title-contender status fading anytime soon.