Florida QB commit DJ Lagway invited to Elite 11 Finals

Willis (Texas) five-star quarterback and Florida commit DJ Lagway has established himself as one of the nation’s top passers, ranking among the top 50 recruits by all four major recruiting services that make up the On3 Industry Ranking.

But the No. 3 passer in the country can now add another line to his resume: Elite 11 Finalist. On Tuesday, Lagway earned the nod and will head to Los Angeles this summer with more than a dozen of the country’s other top quarterback prospects.

There are few higher honors for high school quarterbacks than being invited to the Elite 11 Finals. The event, which will celebrate its 24rd year in 2023, brings together the country’s elite signal-callers for three days of competition and training in Los Angeles.

Elite 11 alumni include Carson Palmer, Andrew Luck, Matthew Stafford, Tim Tebow, and more recently Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and more. Last year’s Elite 11 Finals featured more than a dozen of the top 20 quarterbacks in the final On3 Industry Rankings, including three of the top five players at the position.

Lagway joins a 10 other quarterbacks already invited to this year’s finals.

That list that includes Georgia Five-Star Plus+ commit Dylan Raiola, Alabama five-star quarterback commit Julian Sayin, Notre Dame four-star commit CJ Carr, Ohio State four-star commit Air Noland, top-60 signal-caller Elijah Brown, Florida State four-star commit Luke Kromenhoek, LSU four-star commit Colin Hurley, Ole Miss four-star commit Demond Williams Jr., Penn State three-star commit Ethan Grunkemeyer and three-star Trever Jackson.

Lagway leads a loaded 2024 class for the Gators

The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder is the headliner of Florida’s 2024 recruiting class, which currently ranks No. 3 nationally in the latest On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Lagway jumped on board in early December, and the commitments have flowed since then, with Florida now at seven commitments in the cycle.

He chose the Gators over offers from USC, Texas A&M, LSU, Arkansas, Clemson and more. His junior season came to a halt earlier than anticipated last year at Willis due to injury, but Lagway is already ahead of schedule with his rehabilitation.

Lagway was a top performer last month at OT7 South in Austin and is in line to be a full go in time for the season.

“I’m feeling good and just trying to continue to rehab,” he told On3’s Sam Spiegelman. “That’s a key thing for me to make sure I’m strong and continuing to rehab it (the injury) and get stronger,” he said. “I’m excited to get back out there with the guys, get the chemistry going and make a run my senior year. It’s huge … I’ve been thinking about it all the time since I got hurt, so I need to get my mind right, get my body right, and focus for next year.”