Return to glory: 5-star Florida Gators QB commit DJ Lagway ready to 'build something special' in Gainesville

DJ Lagway, the prized 5-star quarterback commit from Texas, is ready to be a Florida Gator. And here’s something else that should be music to the ears of the Gator Nation: He badly wants to get Florida back to the top in college football.

Gators Online caught up with Lagway this week in Nashville, Tenn., at the On3 NIL Elite Series presented by Mizuno.

Here’s what he had to say …

Gators Online: Right now, Florida has the No. 4 recruiting class in the country and things seem to be clicking on the recruiting trail. What do you think of the group?

DJ Lagway: “I think we’re building something special and I’m just excited to be apart of it. It’s a blessing to one day be coached by Coach Billy Napier. So I’m just excited to get to know the guys we’re bringing in. And just trying to bring in the right people. …. I’m just excited with the guys we already have committed in the class. I’m ready to get to work with those guys as soon as possible.” 

Gators Online: When you’re giving your sales pitch to other recruits, what do you tell them about Florida?

DJ Lagway: “I really just want them to know Florida is the place to be. I really just think we can build something special like it used to be in ’05, ’06 and those days. I’m just really excited about trying to get the best players in there. Because without the best players in there, I can’t really do my best. I’ve got to have the guys around me to do my best. That’s the biggest thing to me.”

DJ Lagway is selling UF … and other recruits are buying

Gators Online: How receptive have recruits been to your message about Florida?

DJ Lagway: “It’s been real positive. You know, people have really started to not downplay Florida. You know, so they’re giving it a chance and giving it a look. I’m just really blessed and fortunate to be in this situation.”

Gators Online: Last week, you wished Gator great Danny Wuerffel  happy birthday on Twitter. Now you’re referencing Urban Meyer’s teams in Gainesville. So you know you’re Florida history. Who was your favorite Gator growing up and why?

DJ Lagway: “My favorite player I would say was Tim Tebow. Just his tenacity and his will to win — I just want to bring that back to Florida. I want to have that same mindset that he had especially with his religion and his faith in God. I just feel the same about everything — I really want to bring that back to the Florida tradition.”

Gators Online: Former Gators QB Anthony Richardson just went No. 4 in the draft and you watched him play closely. What should Napier and QB analyst Ryan O’Hara get credit for in helping him get to that next level?

DJ Lagway: “I would say from what I’ve seen, just sharpening him up as a quarterback. Just helping him go through reads better and just really being a true overall quarterback. And that’s just why I can’t wait to be around those guys on a day-to-day basis for four years. I’m really excited and can’t wait to get there and learn — and just soak in everything and just be a total sponge.”

Gators Online: Best part about the University of Florida?

DJ Lagway: “The fans, most definitely. The fans and the game atmosphere. Different from any other college game day experience ever.”