Florida's DJ Lagway launches merchandise collection

DJ Lagway pieced together one of the best seasons in Texas high school football history in 2023.

But the Five-Star Plus+ prospect and top-ranked quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class is now a Florida Gator ready to build his NIL brand. He was hampered to monetize his publicity rights in high school because of rules in the Lone Star State.

The reigning Gatorade Player of the Year has partnered with OTSS (Only the Strong Survive) to launch a merchandise collection on the Open app. The initial Lagway collection was designed by Florida-based designer Akra Vision. His first line is slated to drop in early May drop.

But with Saturday marking Florida’s annual Orange and Blue spring game, Lagway is opening a Gainesville-based pop-up store. The line is available for purchase starting Friday and continuing until supplies last at Alma Mater Custom Apparel.

“It has always been a personal dream of mine to launch my lifestyle brand, and I was blessed
with the opportunity to partner with OTSS and Open,” Lagway said in a statement. “I’m excited to share my story through this kind of creative medium, reflecting on my faith, family, and football. I can’t wait
for everyone to see what we’ve created together and to be able to connect with my fans and
showcase my personality.”

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DJ Lagway primed for NIL, impressing at Florida

DJ Lagway threw for 4,631 yards, 58 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 72.1% of his passes as a senior at Willis (Texas) High School. Florida fans will get their first look at him on Saturday. Lagway’s merchandise line is not his first foray into NIL. He’s repped by The Network Advisory and Legacy Sports Advisors for marketing, brand partnerships and NIL representation.

The quarterback signed his first NIL deal in December, too. Lagway inked an exclusive, multi-year endorsement deal with Leaf Trading Cards, releasing a NextGen autograph card as part of the agreement. He has nearly 80,000 social media followers.

“First of all, I would say he’s impressed me with his ability to learn, retain information, and he picks it up really quickly,” Florida coach Billy Napier recently said. “Then his ability to take it from meeting room to walkthrough and then to do it in a practice setting. Today was really good for him, he had to play the situations as they arose throughout the scrimmage. I think the big next step for him is the game-management piece.”

Lagway’s father, John Derek Lagway, played running back for Baylor from 1997 to 2001 under coaches Dave Roberts and Kevin Steele. He has been through the recruitment process before. His son is one of the top-ranked recruits coming out of the Lone Star State.

But there’s more to the quarterback than his elite arm.

“We want people to see who he is,” John Derek Lagway previously told On3. “He is a really, really good kid. A leader and trailblazer in our community. We always want to try to help other guys, that’s what it’s all about. I feel like God put him in the situation to help others.”