Under the overcast sky and beaming floodlights, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium roared with excitement as quarterback DJ Lagway led the Gators’ offense onto the field for UF’s opening drive of the 2025 season.
It was an offseason filled with twists and turns, including a late-July calf strain that placed Lagway in a boot during a portion of training camp.
However, all questions on how the sophomore would perform were answered in a fell swoop.
Sporting a white compression sleeve on his previously injured left leg, Lagway commandeered the offense with precision. Over seven drives under center, the 6-foot-3 dual-threat quarterback completed 15 of 18 passes, racking up 120 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
“This offseason was a whirlwind,” Lagway said post-game. “I definitely think I got better from it. I learned a lot of things about myself.”
Lagway’s efficiency, paired with an impressive debut from freshman wide receiver Vernell Brown III propelled the Florida Gators (1-0) to a 55-0 rout against Long Island University (0-1).
“It was a good night,” head coach Billy Napier said. “We played turnover-free football. We played penalty-free football. We got some takeaways. I thought we tackled well, and overall, the operation was pretty clean.”
Making his Florida debut, Brown III became the third true freshman wideout to start their opening game for the Gators, joining Antonio Callaway and Percy Harvin.
Brown showed flashes of his athleticism late in the second quarter, corralling a 41-yard pass with one hand while falling on his back. The catch not only received roars from the crowd, but set up the Gators for another score moments later.
“People will be talking about that catch for a long time,” Napier said.
Brown finished the contest with three catches for 79 yards. He also returned four kicks for 60 yards.
Sophomore running back Jadan Baugh paced the Gators on the ground, rushing for a team-best 104 yards while scoring the Gators’ first offensive touchdown of the season.
Baugh had four runs of 15 or more yards in the contest as he imposed his dominance behind the stout Gators offensive line.
Florida’s defense was also on point throughout the matchup, limiting Long Island to 86 total yards and two first downs in the contest.
The Gators completely shut down the Sharks' normally efficient running game, allowing just 37 rushing yards on 32 carries. In 2024, the Sharks averaged 188.2 rushing yards per game, while the Gators gave up 149.5 rushing yards per game.
“I thought we were all on the same page,” Napier said. “I thought we communicated well… We were assignment sound and pursued the ball inside out.”
The Gators also dominated the turnover battle, and for the first time since 2017, Florida’s opening score of the season came on the defensive end.
During the game's opening drive, junior linebacker Jaden Robinson stripped LIU redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Howell, allowing junior defensive back Bryce Thornton to recover the ball and take it 37 yards to the end zone. The scoop and score was Florida’s first fumble recovery for a touchdown since 2020.
Later in the second quarter, Thornton made yet another fumble recovery after LIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Greenwood attempted a pitch that sailed behind his running back.
“We wanted to establish a standard today, and I think we did that,” sophomore linebacker Myles Graham said. “No matter who we play, whether it's Long Island, or whoever it is, we want to keep playing like that.”
With the score lopsided as the game went on, some of Florida’s fresh faces put their fingerprints on the victory.
In his first taste of collegiate action, freshman Tramell Jones Jr. shined in relief of Lagway to open up the second half.
The Jacksonville native was on point, completing 12 of 18 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, including his first career touchdown throw to junior tight end Tony Livingston with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter. He also ran for 14 yards.
Jones showcased chemistry with redshirt freshman wide receiver TJ Abrams, who made two catches for 53 yards. That surpassed his 2024 mark of 34 receiving yards over five appearances.
“Tramell has earned the job,” Napier said. “He’s really had a strong surge the last few weeks. He just kept getting better. This is an opportunity to give him a lot of work, and we felt strongly about that.”
Florida will face the South Florida Bulls (1-0) at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is the Summer 2025 sports editor. He is a third-year journalism sports & media major and in his fifth semester at The Alligator. He is a big South Florida sports fan and would die for Matthew Tkachuk.
