DJ Uiagalelei explains why he’s declining invitation to ACC media days

DJ Uiagalelei knows all about ACC Kickoff, the conference’s football media days event. He has the opportunity to attend the upcoming 2024 season preview showcase, but is passing it up because it wouldn’t feel right to the veteran quarterback.

Uiagalelei took to social media on Tuesday to share that he was invited to represent Florida State at ACC Kickoff, but is passing up the invitation so that members of the 2023 ACC championship squad can instead be in the spotlight.

“I was honored to be invited by the conference to represent Florida State at this year’s ACC Kickoff,” Uiagalelei wrote. “The experience of attending that event in 2021 and 2022 is among the highlights of my time in college, and I appreciate being viewed as one of the conference’s top players heading into this season.

“However, I feel strongly that Florida State should be represented by players who were part of last year’s ACC championship team. The players who helped put this program back on top of the ACC should have the opportunity to be recognized for their contributions. This team is more than its quarterback, and I’m excited for my teammates who will experience this fantastic event.”

While some might say the 2024 event is about this year’s team and Uiagalelei, the starting quarterback, is a fitting representative, it’s hard to find fault in his decision. It is undoubtedly noble of Uiagalelei to turn down the national spotlight in favor of those who played for the Seminoles while he was a member of the Oregon State Beavers.

As FSU’s starting quarterback, there will certainly be many more opportunities for Uiagalelei to hype the 2024 Seminoles.

Uiagalelei, who played in 36 games for Clemson over 3 seasons, is back in the ACC as a fifth-year “COVID super senior.” He’s looking to build on a 2023 season in which he posted his best numbers in passing yards (2,638) and yards per attempt (8.4) in 12 games at Oregon State.

#NoleFamily pic.twitter.com/iVxDUl4dwx

— DJ Uiagalelei (@DJUiagalelei) July 9, 2024

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.