Interim coach Billy Gonzales confirmed Monday DJ Lagway will maintain his position as Florida’s starting quarterback despite being benched against Kentucky.
Lagway struggled immensely in the Gators’ 38-7 loss to Kentucky, throwing three interceptions in the first half. He was pulled for true freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. in the third quarter.
“Right now, in my mind, he’s going to take one-reps when we go out to practice today,” Gonzales said. “Hopefully it’s a learning experience that’s going to make [him] better this week when we prepare for Ole Miss.”
Alongside the three turnovers, Lagway finished the game completing 11 of 19 pass attempts for 83 yards and a touchdown. Jones didn’t fare much better in the box score, recording just 60 passing yards and completing 9 of 17 attempts. Despite that, Gonzales said he thought the freshman did a “fantastic job.”
“That was his first SEC play,” he said. “To get out there and get a chance to take the team, lead the team, a learning experience for him.”
This was Jones’ first in-game action since UF’s 55-0 home opener win against LIU, where he went 12 of 18 passing for 131 yards.
With a decent performance from Jones and the latter not performing, Gonzales' commitment to Lagway appeared to waver after the loss.
“We'll take a look at the film, and obviously we think he's a very talented young man," Gonzales said Saturday. "But we'll take a look at everything and move forward once we get back home."
This is not the first time that Lagway has struggled this season. He had a career-worst performance against LSU on Sept. 13, where he threw five interceptions. He then followed that with a subpar showing against Miami, totaling a mere 61 yards.
However, the plethora of struggles were not enough to permanently sway Gonzales as he confirmed his faith in Lagway as the Gators’ quarterback.
Gonzales put the blame on himself and the coaching staff for Lagway’s struggles and said he hoped sidelining him would give him a chance to refocus. He said he spoke to the quarterback after the loss and Lagway emphasized wanting to improve his decision making.
“Don’t lose that edge,” he said. “You’ve extended so many plays since you’ve been here, and that’s what make you great,"
However, most important for Gonzales was making sure that Lagway knew the pressure was on the coaching staff and that the progress began there.
Lagway has now logged more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) on the season, and the regression mechanically from his true freshman season is apparent. While he was plagued by offseason injuries and missed crucial time in the spring, it does not seem to account for the severity of his state.
As a true freshman, Lagway totaled 1,915 yards on 115-of-192 passing and rushed for 101 yards. Despite the small sample size, starting only seven games, he was in the Heisman conversation going into this season and surrounded by a projected national championship caliber squad.
After an injury sidelined senior Graham Mertz, last season’s game against Kentucky marked the beginning of DJ Lagway's seemingly cemented role as Florida’s starting quarterback.
At 3-6, Florida will have to win out its remaining three games to contend for a bowl game. The Gators take on No. 6 Ole Miss at 7 p.m. Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow her on X @avadicecca24.
Ava is a sophomore sports journalism student and the volleyball beat reporter for fall 2025. She enjoys playing basketball and volleyball in her free time and going on beach trips with friends. She has been a Boston sports fan all her life (Brad Marchand we miss you).
