In the eyes of many fans, DJ Lagway’s first year at Florida was nothing short of spectacular. His success and exciting end to Florida’s 2024 season cemented the 19-year-old as the face of the team’s potential and put expectations for the Gators in conversation.
“I always say pressure is a privilege,” Lagway said at SEC Media Days in Atlanta on July 16. “Once you have pressure, that means people are counting on you to do big things.”
The sophomore has felt the pressure for much of his career. He was a top prospect out of Willis, Texas, and entered last season as a backup to redshirt senior Graham Mertz. After an injury sidelined the veteran, Lagway started seven games, totaling 1,915 yards on 115-of-192 passing.
With a 6-1 performance at the helm, he tied the program record for the most wins as a true freshman quarterback.
Many have touted Lagway’s ability to elevate the team. Chris Doering, a former Florida wide receiver and ESPN college football analyst, judges quarterbacks by how they “raise the play” of their teammates in the huddle. Lagway’s impact on his team is unique, he said.
“You can see when he steps into the huddle that he energizes not only that huddle but the entire team,” Doering said. “[It’s] very rare you see a guy that young, at that stage of his college career, have the leadership skills and that impact on the team.”
The buzz around Lagway also came from his contribution to Florida’s 4-4 SEC record and 8-5 overall record despite a difficult schedule. He helped UF take out ranked opponents LSU and Ole Miss in back-to-back weeks and ended the season by securing Florida a bowl game.
It became clear the noise surrounding him and Florida as a whole was only going to increase heading into this season.
Lagway’s size, athleticism and arm led him to be recognized as a dual-threat game-changer for the Gators.
Ralph Russo, a senior college sports writer for The Athletic, spoke to his talent and the impact of media attention.
“He is a monster talent and a guy who I could see quickly becoming a massive star in college football,” Russo said. “He’s got the talent to do that, but of course, he’s also been built up a lot in a very short time on a very short sample size, so there’s an interesting dynamic now on what will be success for DJ.”
Oliver Hodgkinson, the sports insight manager at Pro Football Network, doubled down on Lagway’s assets but shed light on refinements that would bring his game to the next level.
“There was a lot of hero ball on his tape last year,” Hodgkinson said. “So utilizing that arm and talent, but also knowing when to rein in.”
Correcting some of his mechanics and interception numbers will be crucial, he said, all things Lagway plans to focus on during the offseason.
Lagway battled postseason injuries that threatened his improvement, including a shoulder injury that kept him from playing in April’s Orange and Blue game. UF head coach Billy Napier was on top of his recovery and progress, stating the quarterback would be back in full starting in June. Recent comments from Napier and Lagway at SEC Media Days confirmed his health. The injury has not hindered his team or analysts’ expectations for the upcoming season, they said.
CBS Sports college football analyst Josh Pate and On3 reporter Andy Staples joined Doering in ranking Lagway first among SEC quarterbacks. Staples attributed the ranking to his immense potential when at full capacity. In a recent article, he wrote that Lagway’s ceiling is the highest of any quarterback in the country when he’s healthy.
However, Lindy Davis, the publisher of Lindy’s Sports, said the pressure on Lagway comes from Florida’s position as much as his potential.
“For them to navigate it successfully, he’s going to have to have a big year,” Davis said. “I don’t think any team could navigate the schedule the Gators have without an excellent quarterback.”
According to ESPN, Lagway and the Gators’ upcoming season will be the toughest schedule in the SEC and the nation yet again. With the No. 7 recruiting class rank, the Florida inventory will be better equipped to handle the grueling SEC lineup that includes preseason favorites like Texas, Georgia and LSU, according to 247Sports.
With Napier’s success in player retention this year, they returned key pieces from last season with experience against the ranked opponents Florida will face in its upcoming season.
“I think the pieces are in place around [Lagway] for him to be successful,” Russo said. “If he explodes and becomes … the best version of himself, then Florida is on their way to probably having a massive season, and all the best-case scenarios for DJ are on the table.”
A standout season for Lagway is ideal for the program, but Russo said burdening the sophomore with carrying the team on his back may sell the rest of the Florida roster’s capacity short.
“If he needs to be managed a little more, they can still be successful, and I think that is what Billy is trying to do,” Russo said. “You improve the things around him so that he doesn’t have to carry the team. To me, I look at it on paper, and it certainly looks like there is enough there where he doesn’t have to be Superman.”
While the stakes may not be as high, Hodgkinson described what his idea for a successful season for Lagway may look like and the performance that would put the Gators in a good position. Cutting interception numbers at the forefront, upwards of 20 passing touchdowns and over 3,000 passing yards would give Florida its best chance at success, he said.
Florida's promise will also depend on Napier’s vision for the offensive unit.
After helping the Gators win three SEC Championships under Steve Spurrier from 1993 to 1995, Doering spoke highly about Lagway and the team’s chances this year.
“They brought the talent in,” Doering said. “They have the quarterback, which is the most important position in all of sports, and they have the belief in themselves.”
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow her on X @avadicecca24.
