The collective stomachs of Clemson fans sunk on Thursday night after it was revealed that star quarterback – and projected 2021 No. 1 overall NFL draft pick – Trevor Lawrence had tested positive for COVID-19 and would miss this week’s game against Boston College.
Per guidelines from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which No. 1 ranked Clemson is a part of, Lawrence must isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms or a positive test before returning to football activity.
Obviously, Clemson was dealt a big blow losing Lawrence, but there is hope on the depth chart in the form of D.J. Uiagalelei, a highly recruited true freshman who entered Clemson with his own share of hype.
Here’s what you need to know about Uiagalelei ahead of his first career NCAA start – which can be seen at noon ET Saturday on TSN1 – against Boston College.
He was ranked as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback
Uiagalelei, who hails from Bellflower, Calif., was ranked as the No. 1 dropback passer in the recruiting class of 2020 by all the major recruiting services and was viewed as a top 10 recruit overall. Lawrence, who Uiagalelei is stepping in for on Saturday, was also ranked as the No. 1 dropback passer in his class.
Over his high school career, Uiagalelei threw for 10,496 yards and had 127 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions. He also rushed 1,103 yards and added another 18 touchdowns.
He has size
While Uiagalelei (6-foot-4) isn’t quite as tall as the 6-foot-6 Lawrence, he’s bigger than him weight-wise. Lawrence has a slender build, being officially listed as 220 pounds by Clemson, while Uiagalelei is more solidly built, being an eye-popping 250 pounds. People in football circles traditionally prefer bigger quarterbacks as they’re seen as being better equipped to handle the physical punishment that comes with being hit in the pocket.
“He has everything that the great ones we’ve had (had), just bigger,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said of Uiagalelei last December via USA Today. “He’s not 6-6 like Trevor, but none of those guys were 240 pounds, and he can run as well as anybody we’ve had. Just a special young man. Just a very humble young man. No entitlement. No drama.”
He has some NCAA experience
Saturday will be Uiagalelei’s first career start, but the first-year player has already seen action in five of Clemson’s six games this season.
One of the benefits of being a backup on the top team in college football is that Clemson often blows out teams, which affords opportunities for the backups to step in and get some game reps. Uiagalelei has gone 12-of-19 this season for 102 yards passing and has added 32 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
It also bears noting that the true freshman won the backup job by beating out Taisun Phommachanh, who enrolled at Clemson a year ahead of Uiagalelei.
He was a high school baseball star
At one point in time during his high school career, it wasn’t clearer whether Uiagalelei’s future laid on the gridiron or on the baseball diamond.
As a pitcher, he reportedly has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s, and according to recruiting service Perfect Game, Uiagalelei is also capable of playing first base, third base and outfield.
In the past, there was discussion that Uiagalelei could be a top pick in the MLB draft. In September, however, he told reporters that he “most likely” won’t play baseball, choosing instead to focus solely on football.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
