In the college football world full of shifting rosters, rising stars and powerhouse programs, the quarterback arguably carries the most weight and often defines a team’s identity. And for the Florida Gators, the quarterback room is shaping up to be a defining storyline of the 2025 season.
From high-upside freshmen to seasoned transfers, UF has assembled a deep, talented quarterback group ready to set the tone under center this season. With head coach Billy Napier’s Gators wrapping up fall camp and geared for the season, Florida’s quarterback room has shown promise by combining competitiveness with promising opportunities for those ready to seize them.
DJ Lagway, sophomore
At the helm of Florida’s offense, Lagway embodies the competitive spirit of Napier’s offense. A five-star quarterback out of Willis, Texas, Lagway quickly jumped into the system as a freshman and found himself right at home.
Through seven starts in 2024, the 2023 National Gatorade Player of the Year posted a 6-1 record to the tune of 1,915 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions..
Described by Napier as a “really motivated and hungry guy,” the sophomore was named to five different 2025 award watch lists ahead of the season. However, Lagway has struggled with injuries through 2025. UF’s highly touted quarterback missed out on reps in the Orange and Blue Spring Game due to concerns with a lower-body injury in April and dealt with a modified workload throughout fall training camp due to a calf strain suffered in late July.
Napier thinks Lagway’s road to recovery is promising and Florida’s coach is optimistic for his leading passer to get more action. Just recently, Lagway returned to full team drills and participated in his first 11-on-11 of fall camp, less than two weeks prior to Florida’s season opener against Long Island University.
“He’s hitting all of his numbers,” Napier said. “Ball’s coming out of his hand with more velocity than any time in his career.”
Despite previously being kept out of full team participation, Lagway remained a steadfast leader in the locker room, a crucial role not overlooked by his coach.
“Injuries are one of the tougher things about the profession,” Napier said. “I think he’s done a good job staying connected. He still has a voice as a leader, he’s still walking the halls, he’s still able to be a factor in that regard.”
Lagway is trending upwards and is expected to be one of the largest factors in Florida’s offensive resurgence this season. That being said, the players behind him on the depth chart have been a major point of contention throughout training camp and left several questions if he suffered another injury during the season.
Harrison Bailey, graduate student
Bailey was welcomed aboard UF’s football program in the hopes that he could be a viable backup for Lagway. Playing as a four-year starter at Marietta High School in Georgia and leading his team to its first state championship in over 50 years, Bailey tried his hand in collegiate play as a five-star prospect.
After spending one year each at Tennessee and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Bailey transferred to Louisville, where he earned an MVP accolade for his three-touchdown performance in the Cardinals’ 35-34 win over Washington in the 2024 Sun Bowl.
Transferring to Florida in the spring of 2025, Bailey got right to work as a leader and signal caller on the Gators’ offense behind Lagway. He even threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in Florida’s Orange and Blue Spring Game in April.
During fall camp, Napier touched on the importance of Harrison as a veteran player. The 23-year-old had embraced the role months earlier, fueled by the relationship he built with his new head coach.
“I tell people all the time, coach Napier is my favorite coach I've ever been around, any position, anything,” Bailey said following the spring scrimmage. “Coach Nape's down to earth. He'll shoot it straight with you, but also, he'll put you under his wing and teach you”.
Aidan Warner, redshirt sophomore
Warner joined UF as a preferred walk-on in the spring of 2024, following a redshirt year at Yale. In the 2024 season, Warner made his collegiate debut against Samford, entered the game against Georgia in the wake of Lagway’s hamstring injury and started the following week in a 49-17 loss to Texas.
Although the loss to Texas was met with heavy criticism from fans, Warner gained experience lining up against one of the top programs in the nation.
Warner has made significant leaps as both a person and a player. Those alongside Warner on offense, including sophomore wide receiver Aidan Mizell, have taken notice of the quarterback’s evolution over the past year.
“He’s definitely become a better player,” Mizell said. “I feel like last year he was kind of just thrown in the fire, not a lot of readiness… I’ve just seen him develop as a leader, as a thrower, as just an overall human.”
Mizell’s respect for Warner runs deeper than just their time together at UF. The Florida teammates share a history dating back to high school, where the two faced one another on the gridiron. Mizell recalled when Warner threw for 300 yards and “three or four touchdowns” against his team in high school.
“In high school, he messed us up,” Mizell said. “He has a real strong arm, real accurate.”
Now entering his second season at Florida, Warner has put the program on notice with his performance in fall camp, impressing with his growth and determination. Coaches have taken note as well.
“I think all of our quarterbacks have taken advantage of the reps,” Napier said. “Aidan, in particular, was taking a big step in the right direction.”
Tramell Jones Jr., freshman
Florida acquired four-star quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. , boosting its offensive depth with the standout from Mandarin High School. The freshman followed in the footsteps of his father, a Florida alum, choosing UF over top programs like Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Maryland, Virginia Tech and others.
Coming out of high school, Jones was rated the No. 10 player in Florida in the 2025 class by Rivals. He racked up 7,197 passing yards and 75 touchdowns on 451 completions in high school. Additionally, Jones threw only 21 interceptions and ended his time as a Mustang with a 59.3% completion percentage.
Now, through his first fall camp, Jones has made his mark on the No. 15 program in the AP preseason Top 25, impressing with a unique athletic playmaking ability.
“We’ve seen [Tramell] get healthy and more comfortable in the system,” Napier said. “Initially, he wasn’t taking any [reps with the first and second unit] and then obviously we’ve increased the reps since he’s done more and proven that he’s capable.”
Although Napier made it clear that the young quarterback needs to work on operating, processing information and communicating in a quicker manner, the coach described Jones as a “buzz worthy” player who has impressed with his feet and by making “off-schedule plays.”
“He throws a really good ball, he’s very accurate,” Napier said. “He’s got arm talent, and I think he’s a smart kid.”
Aaron Williams, redshirt freshman
Redshirt freshman Aaron Williams joined UF in the summer of 2024 and redshirted behind the Gators’ top arms in his first collegiate season. A three-year varsity player and two-year varsity starter at Winter Park High School, Williams is a lengthy quarterback standing at 6-foot-1 with a long, outstretched delivery, according to QBHitList.com.
The current freshman weighed in at 190 pounds as a high school prospect, but is now listed as 214 pounds on Florida’s official roster. With his tall frame that allows him to easily see out of the pocket and scan the field, Williams joined UF as a promising young talent. The Florida native quoted NFL quarterback and 10-time pro bowler Russell Wilson in a personal statement on his NCSA College Recruiting page.
“I think to be a great quarterback; you have to have great leadership, great attention to detail, and a relentless competitive nature,” Wilson said. “And that's what I try to bring to the table, and I have a long way to go. I'm still learning, and I'm still on a constant quest for knowledge.”
Clay Millen, redshirt senior
Although he has yet to appear in a game for Florida, redshirt senior quarterback Clay Millen has impressed with his gun-slinging ability. He transferred to Florida as a three-star prospect from Colorado State in the spring of 2024, according to 247sports.com.
Originally a four-star quarterback out of Mount Si High School in Washington, Millen redshirted his first season at Nevada before making 11 starts over two seasons at Colorado State. Now, in a system full of undeniable talent, Millen is looking to carve out a role as a reliable veteran.
Although overshadowed by those vying for the starting role, Millen has the knowledge and steady arm needed to make a difference if and when his name is called.
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Curan is the men's tennis beat reporter and a second-year journalism sports & media major. He enjoys spending his free time with pets, at the beach and fishing.
