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Gators commit D.J. Lagway named MaxPreps National Player of the Year

On3 imageby:Keith Niebuhr•12/19/23•

On3Keith

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5-star QB DJ Lagway (Sam Spiegelman, On3)

The stats posted by Florida Gators 5-star quarterback commit DJ Lagway of Willis (Texas) in 2023 were staggering. And now, he has been rewarded for those efforts.

Lagway on Tuesday was named the 2023 MaxPreps National High School Football Player of the Year. 

Per MaxPreps, “The 5-star signal caller had one of the best seasons in Texas high school football history. He threw for 4,631 yards and 58 touchdowns against six interceptions while completing 72.1 percent of his attempts. He added 975 yards rushing and 15 more scores. Lagway led the Wildkats to the best season in school history, leading them to a 12-1 record with the lone loss coming against No. 6 DeSoto in the third round of the Class 6A Division 2 playoffs.”

Lagway, who visited the Gators last weekend, is an early enrollee.

The other finalists for the award were Jeremy Hecklinski, QB, Marietta (Ga.) Walton, Ju’Juan Johnson, QB, Lafayette Christian (La.), Jeremiah Smith, WR, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade and Iasaac Wilson, QB Corner Canyon (Utah).

Smith is a Florida target currently committed to Ohio State.

“Criteria for selecting the MaxPreps All-America Team and MaxPreps National Player of the Year includes individual impact, team success and local, regional and state honors from recently-completed season,” MaxPreps wrote.

DJ Lagway would join elite company if he wins the award

Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2006 — Riley Dodge, QB, Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
2007 — Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette (Pa.)
2008 — Garrett Gilbert, QB, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
2009 — Dillon Baxter, ATH, Mission Bay (San Diego)
2010 — Dano Graves, QB, Folsom (Calif.)
2011 — Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
2012 — Derrick Henry, RB, Yulee (Fla.)
2013 — Kyler Murray, QB, Allen (Texas)
2014 — Kyler Murray, QB, Allen
2015 — Derrick Brown, DL, Lanier (Sugar Hill, Ga.)
2016 — Tate Martell, QB, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2017 — JT Daniels, QB, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2018 — Bru McCoy, ATH, Mater Dei
2019 — DJ Uiagalelei, QB, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) / Bryce Young, QB, Mater Dei
2020 — Jaxson Dart, QB, Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)
2021 — Cade Klubnik, QB, Westlake (Austin, Texas)
2022 — Caleb Downs, DB, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.)

DJ Lagway is the No. 2 quarterback and No. 10 overall recruit nationally for the On3 Industry Rankings.

His coach thinks Lagway has the ability to be a significant contributor in Year 1 at any program.

“Undoubtedly, 1,000 percent,” said Trent Miller of Willis High. “With what he can already do physically, matched with what he does in the film room and gameplan preparation, he could start for anybody in the country as a true freshman.”

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