Inside the sensational freshman season of Gators quarterback DJ Lagway

TAMPA, FLORIDA — One word keeps coming up this week over and over as Florida Gators players and coaches describe true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway — special.

As in …

He’s special.

He can make some special throws.

Obviously, a really special talent.

DJ Lagway has been named a freshman All-American by multiple outlets

With Lagway, an On3 True Freshman All-American, the accolades are endless and deservedly so. He has completed 59.2 percent of his throws for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while going 5-1 as the starter. Beyond those numbers, his emergence has energized the program, possibly saved his head coach’s job and galvanized a hungry Florida fan base.

Once 1-2 and seemingly stuck in neutral, the Gators enter this week’s Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa vs. Tulane at 7-5 after late-season wins over two ranked teams and a drubbing of archrival Florida State. Regardless of what happens Friday against the Green Wave (9-4), Florida will finish with its first winning season since 2020.

Internally, there is a belief the program — and Lagway — are just getting started.

“I think the sky is the limit,” Gators senior receiver Chimere Dike said. “If you look at the young guys and what we have coming back, along with our offensive line — (they have) a lot of guys coming back — if you pair that with DJ Lagway … I think they can be really dangerous going into next season.”

He is focused on being the best QB he can be

Lagway seems to have taken this season’s success in stride. When spotted in the team hotel Tuesday afternoon, he was walking through the lobby with a bounce in his step and a smile on his face as he headed toward a team meeting. But while Lagway has the outward appearance of a happy-go-lucky young adult, inside the fire to succeed burns.

“It’s easy to see why he’s had so much success,” Florida co-offensive coordinator Russ Callaway said. “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.”

Dike, Florida’s second-leading receiver in 2024, is confident Lagway will make significant strides this offseason.

“For me personally, Year 1 to Year 2 and Year 2 to Year 3, I think the game slows down a little bit,” Dike said. “I think mentally being able to look back having the offseason to look at what you’ve got to improve and improving on it and working on those things. He’s a super talented player and he does things the right way and he’s going to be a really good player for a long time. He’s one of the best players I’ve been around … The best thing, he has a great head on his shoulders. … He can make some special throws. I think more of the crazy thing with DJ is kind of his off-platform abilities. He can make throws and throw the ball with velocity from unique positions.”

The 2024 season threw the Gators — and Lagway — a curveball.

Lagway shined in his first start vs. Samford

Starter Graham Mertz was injured in the season-opener vs. Miami and Lagway was thrust into the starting lineup in Week 2 vs. Samford. He responded by completing 18 of 25 passes for 456 yards and three touchdowns. Mertz returned the following week and Lagway went back to his role as QB2.

But then Mertz sustained a season-ending knee injury in Florida’s 23-17 overtime loss to Tennessee on Oct. 12. Lagway finished the game and he’s been the starter ever since, with the exception of the Gators’ game at Texas, which he missed with a hamstring injury.

“We really kind of had five different offenses if you will in the first five weeks of the season,” Callaway said. “We really settled in and we’ve done a good job I think of playing to (Lagway’s) strengths. Initially, it was like, ‘Do we need to limit the calls with him being a true freshman?’ But he got out there and when he had his moment he not only excelled, he exceeded our expectations. Not just from a physical standpoint but from a mental standpoint. … We kind of had the approach at first, ‘Hey, do we need to kind of tone it down for him?’ The answer is, no. I don’t know if he goes home and just crams two or three nights before. But he shows up on that Friday walk-through, which is kind of the last send off, and he is flawless.”

The Gators have have won three straight with DJ Lagway at QB

Lagway excelled in a 48-20 win vs. Kentucky on Oct. 19 — his first SEC start. He then had Florida ahead of No. 2 Georgia 10-3 two weeks later before leaving with an injury late in the first half. Later, Lagway made several big plays in home wins over No. 22 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss, games that truly turned Florida’s season around. Meanwhile, his play and presence not only breathed life into this Gators team, but helped get Florida coach Billy Napier off the hot seat.

In Lagway, Napier not only admires the talent — but the mind.

“It’s the type of questions he asks, it’s the dialogue — I just think he’s a more advanced player,” Napier noted. “He understands pressures, coverages, how his concept marries up with what defensive concept we’re getting. He kind of knows the problems and can get ahead of it.”

It should be noted that even after returning from injury, Lagway played at far less than 100 percent health wise. In fact, in those three recent wins, his mobility in the pocket and ability to run at full speed were limited. In the win over FSU, he completed 14 of 22 passes for 133 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Yet even though the game was not Lagway’s best, he made big plays when it counted most, had a handful of eye-opening throws and somehow managed to escape a sack in one highlight-reel moment that displayed not his arm, but his raw strength and power.

As Lagway’s sensational true freshman season nears an end, Napier is of the opinion his young star is primed for a strong game Friday — and for big things in 2025 and beyond.

“DJ’s had a good week. Been very sharp,” Napier said. “Obviously, a little healthier than he’s ever been. He’s just getting started here. The more experience he gets the better he’s going to be.”