Where DJU, Bo Nix Rank Among All-Time Top Five-Star QB Prospects According To The Athletic
750 The Game Staff
The Athletic’s Antonio Morales covers USC Football but expanded his scope for a recent piece on the history of the five-star rated quarterback recruit in college football, ranking the 62 five-star QB prospects since the modern recruiting era began in 2002.
Neither Oregon or Oregon State has had a five-star QB prospect in that era come to campus as a freshman, but have inherited such players in recent years via the transfer portal. Bo Nix came to Oregon from Auburn ahead of the 2023 season, and DJ Uiagalelei came to Oregon State from Clemson at the same time. Nix played two seasons in Eugene while DJU played one in Corvallis before finishing his collegiate career at Florida State.
So where do the two former five-star prospects rank on the list?
From The Athletic:
11. Bo Nix, Auburn (2019)
Nix was viewed as a disappointment after three up-and-down seasons at Auburn, but his two seasons at Oregon (8,101 passing yards, 74 touchdowns and 10 interceptions) altered the way his college career was viewed. He finished third in the Heisman voting in 2023 and led the Ducks to a 12-2 record and New Year’s Six bowl win.
Nix lands in “The Next Up” section, just outside “The Top Ten” of the rankings. Nix was slotted right after Caleb Williams and before J.J. McCarthy.
As for DJU? He is in the group of “Five-Stars Who Started For A Season Or Two With Middling Production”, the 35th-46th ranked prospects.
37. DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson (2020)
Uiagalelei’s career just wrapped up. He was next in line after Watson and Lawrence at Clemson but never performed up to his recruiting ranking. He transferred to Oregon State in 2023 and was at his best there with coach Jonathan Smith. But Smith took the Michigan State job, and Uiagalelei transferred to Florida State, which was a bad fit for both parties, in 2024.
Atop the rankings? Tim Tebow, with Vince Young at No. 2. Check out the full rankings list here.