Tim Tebow: DJ Lagway has chance to be 'extremely special'

Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway was the top QB and No. 3 overall player in the country for the class of 2024, per the On3 Industry rankings. There’s plenty of excitement around Lagway heading into his freshman season.

Arguably the top Florida quarterback of all time in Tim Tebow expects Lagway to live up to the hype.

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Tebow joined The Paul Finebaum Show on Friday to discuss a number of topics, including Florida’s upcoming season. He shared that he is optimistic about the direction the program is headed under Billy Napier. DJ Lagway is a big part of that.

“DJ Lagway, our freshman quarterback. I think he’s extremely special,” Tim Tebow said. “It’s not to take away from Graham, because I think Graham is the leader of the team. But I think DJ can step in and help in a lot of areas and I think give d-coordinators a couple of nightmares.”

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Tebow didn’t specifically say that he expects DJ Lagway to play this season, but it sounds as if he’s at least leaving the possibility open.

Returning quarterback Graham Mertz is without a doubt the starter for Florida after throwing for more than 2,900 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, with only three interceptions. But there’s no denying Lagway’s talent.

The Texas native completed better than 72 percent of his passes as a senior in high school. He threw for 4,604 yards and 58 touchdowns his senior year.

It’s easy to see why Tebow is bullish on the Gators and the future of DJ Lagway.

Tim Tebow lists why Florida fans should be excited about Year 3 under Billy Napier

In addition to DJ Lagway, Tim Tebow believes there are other reasons for optimism in Gainesville.

Tebow appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show Friday afternoon and shared why he is optimistic about Napier and Florida heading into the 2024 season.

“Listen, I think some people could take it as obviously I’m a Gator. I love Florida. I love Gator Nation,” Tim Tebow said. “But you put that to the side, and I do believe there’s a lot of positives.”

One of those is returning quarterback Graham Mertz, who quietly had a really good season in 2023. Mertz threw for more than 2,900 yards and 20 touchdowns, with only three interceptions last season. He also completed better than 70 percent of his passes.

“I think that we have one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC in Graham Mertz,” Tebow said. “I really believe in him.”

Tebow also feels that Billy Napier has improved the culture at Florida now that he is entering his third season in Gainesville. Gators players understand the expectations and what it takes to do things the way Napier wants them done.

“I think that there’s improvement in the culture, in the buy in. I think they went out and they got some guys that they needed from an Xs and Os standpoint – more importantly they needed from a culture standpoint,” Tebow said. “And while we talk about the Jimmys and Joes and the Xs and Os, that’s important.

“But what still matters most in college football is team. And it’s harder now than ever to have a team where yea, we’re not just wearing the same jersey, but we have the same heart posture, we have the same mindset, we have the same goals, we have the same vision. And I think this team is closer to that.”