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Maxwell Award Watch List includes Gators' DJ Lagway

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr07/28/25On3Keith
DJ Lagway, Florida
DJ Lagway, Florida - © Melina Myers-Imagn Images

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.”

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

FIRSTLASTSCHOOLCLASSPOS
RyanWilliamsAlabamaSophomoreWR
NoahFifitaArizonaJuniorQB
SamLeavittArizona StateSophomoreQB
JordynTysonArizona StateJuniorWR
TaylenGreenArkansasSeniorQB
CoreyRuckerArkansas StateSeniorWR
JacksonArnoldAuburnJuniorQB
CamColemanAuburnSophomoreWR
SawyerRobertsonBaylorSeniorQB
BrysonWashingtonBaylorSophomoreRB
MadduxMadsenBoise StateJuniorQB
Al-JayHendersonBuffaloSeniorRB
BrendanSorsbyCincinnatiJuniorQB
CadeKlubnikClemsonSeniorQB
AntonioWilliamsClemsonJuniorWR
DarianMensahDukeSophomoreQB
DJLagwayFlorida SophomoreQB
CadenVeltkampFlorida AtlanticJuniorQB
KeyoneJenkinsFlorida InternationalJuniorQB
TommyCastellanosFlorida StateSeniorQB
NateFrazierGeorgiaSophomoreRB
HaynesKingGeorgia TechSeniorQB
JamalHaynesGeorgia TechSeniorRB
LukeAltmyerIllinoisSeniorQB
FernandoMendozaIndianaJuniorQB
ElijahSarrattIndianaSeniorWR
MarkGronowskiIowa SeniorQB
RoccoBechtIowa StateJuniorQB
AlonzaBarnett IIIJames MadisonJuniorQB
AveryJohnsonKansas StateJuniorQB
DylanEdwardsKansas StateJuniorRB
MillerMossLouisvilleSeniorQB
IsaacBrownLouisvilleSophomoreRB
GarrettNussmeierLSUSeniorQB
CadenDurhamLSUSophomoreRB
CarsonBeckMiamiSeniorQB
JusticeHaynesMichiganJuniorRB
DariusTaylorMinnesotaJuniorRB
AhmadHardyMissouriSophomoreRB
BlakeHorvathNavySeniorQB
CJBaileyNC StateSophomoreQB
DylanRaiolaNebraskaSophomoreQB
JeremiyahLoveNotre DameJuniorRB
ParkerNavarroOhio SeniorQB
JeremiahSmithOhio StateSophomoreWR
JohnMateerOklahomaJuniorQB
JaydnOttOklahomaSeniorRB
MakhiHughesOregonJuniorRB
MaalikMurphyOregon StateJuniorQB
AnthonyHankersonOregon StateSeniorRB
DrewAllarPenn StateSeniorQB
NicholasSingletonPenn StateSeniorRB
KaytronAllenPenn StateSeniorRB
EliHolsteinPittSophomoreQB
DesmondReidPittSeniorRB
KevinJenningsSMUJuniorQB
LaNorrisSellersSouth CarolinaSophomoreQB
BraylonBraxtonSouthern MissSeniorQB
JoshHooverTCUJuniorQB
ArchManningTexasSophomoreQB
QuintrevionWisnerTexasJuniorRB
MarcelReedTexas A&MSophomoreQB
Le’VeonMossTexas A&MSeniorRB
BehrenMortonTexas TechSeniorQB
TuckerGleasonToledoSeniorQB
JadenNixonUCFSeniorRB
NicoIamaleavaUCLASophomoreQB
Jai’DenThomasUNLVJuniorRB
DevonDampierUtahJuniorQB
OwenMcCownUTSAJuniorQB
DiegoPaviaVanderbiltSeniorQB
ChandlerMorrisVirginiaSeniorQB
KyronDronesVirginia TechSeniorQB
TerionStewartVirginia TechSeniorRB
DemondClaiborneWake ForestSeniorRB
DemondWilliams Jr.WashingtonSophomoreQB
JonahColemanWashington SeniorRB
JahiemWhiteWest VirginiaJuniorRB
MaverickMcIvorWestern KentuckySeniorQB
JalenBuckleyWestern MichiganJuniorRB

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