Florida's DJ Lagway earns ESPN Freshman All-American honors
On Friday, the ESPN Freshman All-American Team was released and included in the group was Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway.
“Florida has come a long way since it lost to rival Miami 41-17 to open the season amid widespread calls for Billy Napier’s firing. Lagway’s emergence is a big reason — and likely saved Napier’s job,” said ESPN’s Tom Luginbill.
“Lagway became just the seventh true freshman to start at quarterback for the Gators and dazzled when healthy, throwing for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns. Florida also went 5-1 when he started. Lagway has areas to clean up after throwing nine interceptions and completing 59.9% of his passes, but his athleticism, arm talent and leadership are all impressive qualities for the Gators to build around.”
The 6-foot-3, 239-pound signal caller boasts a 4-star On3 college ranking and was a 5-star prospect, the No. 1-ranked quarterback, and a top-three prospect overall coming out of Willis (Texas) High.
Lagway saw time all throughout the fall but became the full-time starter following Graham Mertz‘s season-ending injury in an overtime loss to Tennessee. That resulted in him leading Florida to three consecutive wins to end the regular season and then another victory vs. Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.
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“It’s easy to see why he’s had so much success,” Florida co-offensive coordinator Russ Callaway said of DJ Lagway. “And he’s going to continue because he’s one of the rare guys at an early age who has been hungry and has laser-like focus and knows what he wants to accomplish. And he doesn’t talk about it. He just does it.
“You’ll go up (to the team facility) multiple times throughout the weekend, early morning, late at night, and you’re not surprised to see that guy up there. And that’s why he’s had that success. He’s phenomenal.”
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