Clemson Tigers fans are calling for head coach Dabo Swinney to bench starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei.
Clemson Tigers fans sure have been spoiled in recent years, and for good reason, as they had Trevor Lawrence starting under center. But once he declared for the NFL Draft and was selected first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tigers leaned upon five-star recruit D.J. Uiagalelei to fill in as the starter.
Things have not gone as expected to start the 2021 season, but Clemson fans seemed to have reached their breaking point with Uiagalelei during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Things have gotten so bad, that some in the fanbase were actually calling on head coach Dabo Swinney to bench Uiagalelei in favor of backup Taisun Phommachanh.
But should Swinney do so?
Who is the Clemson backup quarterback?
The answer to if Swinney should bench Uiagalelei, the answer is no. It is still way too early in the season, and the offense is under-performing as a whole.
Phommachanh ranked by 247Sports as a four-star recruit out of Bridgeport, Conn., where he committed to Clemson back in the spring of 2018. The quarterback has been on the team since 2019, where he only appeared in eight games with the football program.
In those appearances, Phommachanh completed 18-of-39 of his pass attempts for 148 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Sure, Clemson fans are not used to watching the team struggle, but benching Uiagalalei is not the answer.
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