WATCH: Florida's DJ Lagway and Elijhah Badger strike early in return
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway and wide receiver Elijhah Badger were sidelined last week at Texas, but they have already made their presence felt against LSU.
With 7:12 left in the first quarter, the 5-star freshman connected with Badger on a 23-yard touchdown pass for the first points of the game. It was impressive ball placement but also good body control and hands against tight coverage.
The Gators are now leading 7-0.
Elijhah Badger ranks No. 2 nationally in yards per catch (23.33) and leads the Gators with 560 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 24 catches. He’s had two 100-yard receiving games this year, including a career-high 148 yards against Kentucky.
“I think Badger is an easy guy to like, you know. If I’m playing quarterback, I think I would try to connect with him, too,” Napier said. “Badger has improved. His game has really taken another step. I think the detail in his route running has improved.
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“Receiver is a skill game. The release part of the game, the top of the route separation, the hand selection, and then obviously the coverage, there is a football IQ element there. But I think Coach G has done a good job with him. He’s a very durable, consistent player, so he’s got some play strength.”
Prior to Saturday, Lagway had completed 60.9% of his pass attempts (56 of 92) for 1,071 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. He had five completions of 40-plus yards in each of his first two starts — and no other UF quarterback has accomplished that feat in a game in the last 20 years — and threw a 43-yard TD pass against Georgia.
Lagway was part of a two-quarterback system with Graham Mertz before his season-ending injury at Tennessee. Lagway led the Gators to a 48-20 win over Kentucky with 305 total yards in his first SEC start. He set the single-game school record for most passing yards (456) by a Florida true freshman quarterback in the 45-7 win over Samford.
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