Maxwell Award Watch List includes Gators' DJ Lagway

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway was a freshman All-American in 2024 according to numerous media outlets. Now, many believe bigger things are in store for him.
Monday, the touted sophomore was named to the Maxwell Award watch list. It goes annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
Last season, as a true freshman, Lagway flashed his potential by passing for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He played a pivotal role in helping Florida finish 8–5 [with four straight wins to close the season]. He started seven games (most after veteran quarterback Graham Mertz was lost for the season with a torn ACL), going 6–1.
To cap the season, Lagway became the Gasparilla Bowl’s first 300-yard passer and for his efforts he was named the game’s MVP. Per a Gators release, “Lagway was named to the FWAA Freshman All-American Team, an ESPN Freshman All-American, a 247Sports True Freshman All-American, an On3 True Freshman Al-American, a PFF True Freshman All-American, the CFN Freshman Quarterback of the Year, a CFN Freshman All-American and earned an SEC Freshman of the Week honor following his game against LSU.”
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Reflecting on his biggest challenges in 2024, Lagway two weeks ago at SEC Media Days pointed to adaptation.
“I would say the most challenging thing was really just time management, going from being in high school and then going to SEC, big-time college football, it’s a big difference,” Lagway said. “Especially where I’m from—a little town, Willis, Texas, it’s a big difference. Once I got adjusted to that and adjusted to knowing the offense and knowing where my people were at, that’s why I’m excited for this year because I know where my people are at. Now I can know where the defense is at and get better at that.”
The Maxwell Award watch list includes 80 players and will be narrowed down to a group of semifinalists Nov. 11.
2025 Maxwell Award Watch List
| FIRST | LAST | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan | Williams | Alabama | Sophomore | WR |
| Noah | Fifita | Arizona | Junior | QB |
| Sam | Leavitt | Arizona State | Sophomore | QB |
| Jordyn | Tyson | Arizona State | Junior | WR |
| Taylen | Green | Arkansas | Senior | QB |
| Corey | Rucker | Arkansas State | Senior | WR |
| Jackson | Arnold | Auburn | Junior | QB |
| Cam | Coleman | Auburn | Sophomore | WR |
| Sawyer | Robertson | Baylor | Senior | QB |
| Bryson | Washington | Baylor | Sophomore | RB |
| Maddux | Madsen | Boise State | Junior | QB |
| Al-Jay | Henderson | Buffalo | Senior | RB |
| Brendan | Sorsby | Cincinnati | Junior | QB |
| Cade | Klubnik | Clemson | Senior | QB |
| Antonio | Williams | Clemson | Junior | WR |
| Darian | Mensah | Duke | Sophomore | QB |
| DJ | Lagway | Florida | Sophomore | QB |
| Caden | Veltkamp | Florida Atlantic | Junior | QB |
| Keyone | Jenkins | Florida International | Junior | QB |
| Tommy | Castellanos | Florida State | Senior | QB |
| Nate | Frazier | Georgia | Sophomore | RB |
| Haynes | King | Georgia Tech | Senior | QB |
| Jamal | Haynes | Georgia Tech | Senior | RB |
| Luke | Altmyer | Illinois | Senior | QB |
| Fernando | Mendoza | Indiana | Junior | QB |
| Elijah | Sarratt | Indiana | Senior | WR |
| Mark | Gronowski | Iowa | Senior | QB |
| Rocco | Becht | Iowa State | Junior | QB |
| Alonza | Barnett III | James Madison | Junior | QB |
| Avery | Johnson | Kansas State | Junior | QB |
| Dylan | Edwards | Kansas State | Junior | RB |
| Miller | Moss | Louisville | Senior | QB |
| Isaac | Brown | Louisville | Sophomore | RB |
| Garrett | Nussmeier | LSU | Senior | QB |
| Caden | Durham | LSU | Sophomore | RB |
| Carson | Beck | Miami | Senior | QB |
| Justice | Haynes | Michigan | Junior | RB |
| Darius | Taylor | Minnesota | Junior | RB |
| Ahmad | Hardy | Missouri | Sophomore | RB |
| Blake | Horvath | Navy | Senior | QB |
| CJ | Bailey | NC State | Sophomore | QB |
| Dylan | Raiola | Nebraska | Sophomore | QB |
| Jeremiyah | Love | Notre Dame | Junior | RB |
| Parker | Navarro | Ohio | Senior | QB |
| Jeremiah | Smith | Ohio State | Sophomore | WR |
| John | Mateer | Oklahoma | Junior | QB |
| Jaydn | Ott | Oklahoma | Senior | RB |
| Makhi | Hughes | Oregon | Junior | RB |
| Maalik | Murphy | Oregon State | Junior | QB |
| Anthony | Hankerson | Oregon State | Senior | RB |
| Drew | Allar | Penn State | Senior | QB |
| Nicholas | Singleton | Penn State | Senior | RB |
| Kaytron | Allen | Penn State | Senior | RB |
| Eli | Holstein | Pitt | Sophomore | QB |
| Desmond | Reid | Pitt | Senior | RB |
| Kevin | Jennings | SMU | Junior | QB |
| LaNorris | Sellers | South Carolina | Sophomore | QB |
| Braylon | Braxton | Southern Miss | Senior | QB |
| Josh | Hoover | TCU | Junior | QB |
| Arch | Manning | Texas | Sophomore | QB |
| Quintrevion | Wisner | Texas | Junior | RB |
| Marcel | Reed | Texas A&M | Sophomore | QB |
| Le’Veon | Moss | Texas A&M | Senior | RB |
| Behren | Morton | Texas Tech | Senior | QB |
| Tucker | Gleason | Toledo | Senior | QB |
| Jaden | Nixon | UCF | Senior | RB |
| Nico | Iamaleava | UCLA | Sophomore | QB |
| Jai’Den | Thomas | UNLV | Junior | RB |
| Devon | Dampier | Utah | Junior | QB |
| Owen | McCown | UTSA | Junior | QB |
| Diego | Pavia | Vanderbilt | Senior | QB |
| Chandler | Morris | Virginia | Senior | QB |
| Kyron | Drones | Virginia Tech | Senior | QB |
| Terion | Stewart | Virginia Tech | Senior | RB |
| Demond | Claiborne | Wake Forest | Senior | RB |
| Demond | Williams Jr. | Washington | Sophomore | QB |
| Jonah | Coleman | Washington | Senior | RB |
| Jahiem | White | West Virginia | Junior | RB |
| Maverick | McIvor | Western Kentucky | Senior | QB |
| Jalen | Buckley | Western Michigan | Junior | RB |






















