Since Gators quarterback DJ Lagway stepped onto the field in the second week of his freshman season, he’s been nothing short of spectacular in the eyes of Florida fans.
However, there are lingering concerns heading into the fall as Lagway deals with his second injury since he strained his hamstring against Georgia in the 2024 season.
A shoulder injury prevented Lagway from throwing during spring training camp, and he suffered a calf strain that placed him in a boot heading into Florida’s fall camp, leading to speculation it could be a long-term injury. Recent reports from head coach Billy Napier have ruled Lagway day-to-day heading into the season opener.
“He’s made a lot of quick progress,” Napier said. “We’ll come up with the best plan we can to have him ready.”
Nonetheless, it raises the question: Who is expected to be Lagway’s backup option? Florida’s quarterback room will battle it out during fall training camp to answer that question.
Aidan Warner, junior Yale transfer
Warner is entering his second year in Florida’s program after an unorthodox sophomore season where he rose from fourth in the depth chart to a road start against the Texas Longhorns due to injuries to players ahead of him.
The Winter Park, Florida, native appeared in four games in 2024, tallying 228 yards, three interceptions and one rushing touchdown.
Many fans at the time were surprised Warner earned the nod over Colorado State transfer Clay Millen. Millen began the year third on the depth chart, but Napier said Warner proved himself in practice to earn the position.
In his start against the Longhorns, Florida lost 49-17 while Warner tossed two interceptions and completed less than half of his passing attempts without a touchdown.
Harrison Bailey, senior Louisville transfer
Bailey began his collegiate career at Tennessee and transferred three times, making stops at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Louisville and now Florida.
The sixth-year senior is a career backup, attempting only 171 passes across five seasons for 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
In Florida’s Orange and Blue game, Bailey played with UF’s projected second-team unit, finishing 29-of-43 for 363 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Warner played with the first-team unit and tallied 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite transferring with lofty experience, Napier consistently touted Warner’s abilities, even when asked about Bailey.
“I think all of our quarterbacks have taken advantage of the reps,” Napier said. “Aidan in particular has taken a big step in the right direction.”
Napier embraced the quarterback challenge among his backups. In Florida’s open media practice Aug. 2, Warner took first-team reps over Bailey, throwing to Florida’s new receivers like freshman Dallas Wilson and UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant.
Based on how practice has unfolded since the spring, the quarterback No. 2 battle is undoubtedly between Warner and Bailey, favoring the Winter Park native.
Warner earned a scholarship during the offseason and has the opportunity to be the first Ivy League transfer to start opening week in program history if Lagway doesn’t recover in time.
Freshman Tramell Jones Jr. and Millen
Jones, a three-star recruit, played 34 varsity games at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville and missed a majority of his senior season due to a lower-body injury. Jones logged 7,197 yards with 71 touchdowns and 21 interceptions across his varsity appearances.
Jones appeared in Florida’s Orange and Blue scrimmage and completed two of three passes for 30 yards.
On the other hand, Millen enters with collegiate experience. Millen is a redshirt senior quarterback who set Colorado State's single-season completion percentage record at 72.2% over 10 starts as a redshirt freshman in 2022. He failed to record a single snap during Florida’s Orange and Blue scrimmage in the spring.
Every backup quarterback has been impressive throughout practice, but Warner was quick to receive praise among his teammates.
“I’m really proud of those guys, it’s like every other day, you don’t know when your name is going to get called,” said Gators tight end Hayden Hansen. “Aidan [Warner] specifically does a really good job of, ‘He’s always ready.’”
Hansen touted the abilities of Jones and Bailey, praising how quickly they’ve adjusted to Florida’s system.
“Tramell [Jones] is coming along really fast for a freshman,” Hansen said. “Harrison's coming along, too. He's picked up the system pretty fast for a transfer, and I'm excited. I don't really feel scared with those guys back here.”
Lagway is Florida’s uncontested signal caller if he recovers in time for the Gators’ season opener. Florida will kick off 2025 against the Long Island Sharks at 4 p.m. Aug. 30 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Contact Luke Adragna at ladragna@alligator.org. Follow him on X @lukeadrag.
Luke Adragna is working his fifth semester at The Alligator and returns as the Summer 2025 assistant sports editor. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his cat Pete and researching niche professional athletes (shoutout Jacquizz Rodgers).
