DJ Lagway discusses NIL journey through freshman year at Florida

Even before DJ Lagway arrived at Florida, he was primed for NIL success. One of the most visible players from the 2024 recruiting cycle, he appeared in a commercial for Gatorade in May through an NIL deal.

Lagway’s profile continued to grow through his freshman year at UF, especially after he took over as the starting quarterback following Graham Mertz’s injury. With his sophomore season on the horizon, he currently has a $3.8 million On3 NIL Valuation.

Over the last 12 months, Lagway saw the impact NIL had on his life. He’s being recognized all over town, which speaks to the way things have changed for him.

“I can say from last January to this January, it’s definitely different,” Lagway said on Outta Pocket with Robert Griffin III. “It’s hard for me to go in grocery stores in Gainesville. Last year, I could do that, and stuff like that.

“So definitely all eyes are on me, especially down in Gainesville and in Florida. It’s definitely a big difference.”

In addition to his partnership with Gatorade, Lagway’s NIL portfolio includes deals with Nintendo and Epic Games, as well as Leaf Trading Cards and the Florida-focused NIL collective, Florida Victorious. He also recently launched the Lagway Foundation in partnership with UF Health.

Lagway’s On3 NIL Valuation puts him at No. 4 in the college football NIL rankings. He also sits at No. 7 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

DJ Lagway: ‘The end goal is the NFL’

As he embarked on his NIL journey, DJ Lagway recalled his first big purchase. He bought a car – a Mercedes, to be exact.

“I bought a Mercedes,” Lagway said. “A little C-Class. It was nice. It was about $30,000 – it was smooth. A little A-to-B.”

Throughout his freshman year, Lagway saw the impact NIL can have on his family, as well. But he’s keeping things in perspective because he knows what lies ahead, and that’s his endgame.

“It’s been a blessing from God himself, just to be able to take care of my family this short time and being able to take care of myself, as well,” Lagway said. “It’s a dream come true, but it’s not the end goal. The end goal is the NFL.

“This is just short-term money. And it’s a blessing. But the goal is the NFL.”