WATCH: DJ Lagway and his father discuss commitment to Gators
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The Gators hit the jackpot Wednesday when quarterback DJ Lagway committed to the Gators live on ESPN2. The top-10 recruit picked UF over USC, Clemson, Texas A&M and Baylor. On3 ranks him as the No. 2 QB and No. 7 overall prospect for 2024.
Lagway is Florida’s highest-rated quarterback commit since Jeff Driskel in 2011. He’s the second top-50 pledge for the Gators in their 2024 class (along with Myles Graham) and the second top-100 quarterback they’ve landed in the last month.
In the videos below, ABC13’s Joe Gleason caught up with Florida’s newest commit and his father, Derek Lagway, to discuss the decision.
“I’m ready to get that No. 1 class. That’s what I’m aiming for,” Lagway said. “The tradition they have, having three national championship winners, I’m just excited to go there, compete and hopefully follow in their footsteps.”
Lagway and his father both had high praise for UF personnel analyst Joe Hamiliton, who hails from their home state of Texas. In addition to Florida coach Billy Napier and offensive analyst Ryan O’Hara, Hamilton was instrumental with Lagway’s commitment.
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“That’s the man right there. Coach Joe is the man,” Lagway said. “I talk to him on a daily.”
“Joe Hamilton, I don’t even know where to start at,” his father added. “I’m gonna be honest with you, he’s one of the reasons why DJ is going to Florida. We spent plenty of nights talking on the phone. He’s an awesome guy. You can’t get any better than Joe Hamilton.”
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In other Florida football news
- Transfer portal tracker: The latest Florida Gators football team roster updates.
- Gators defensive tackle Chris Thomas Jr. is the latest to hit the transfer portal.
- Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller will skip bowl game to prepare for NFL Draft.
UF recruiting roundup
- SOCIAL SLANT: Reaction to Florida landing prized 2024 quarterback DJ Lagway.
- FILM REVIEW: The Gators landed their quarterback of the future in DJ Lagway.
- Lagway’s coach: “His dream is to be the greatest player to ever touch the field.”
- Elite QB DJ Lagway commits to the Gators: “I love what Coach Napier is doing.”
- The Gators visited five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks on the heels of his OV.
- Five-star offensive tackle Samson Okunlola schedules his official visit to Florida.
- Florida coach Billy Napier is set to meet with four-star RB ahead of official visit.
- Billy Napier’s coaching staff met with UF’s highest-ranked commit Wednesday.
- A four-star tight end committed to a Pac-12 team met with UF on Wednesday.
- Co-DC Patrick Toney dropped by for multiple Gators commits on Wednesday.
Gators sports roundup
- Shooting struggles doomed the Gators in Wednesday’s 75-54 loss to UConn.
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Gators Twitter updates
- DJ Lagway’s commitment ceremony:
![Florida s Ron Roberts will serve as executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Roberts was coaching drills Saturday. The Florida Gators held their second Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, March 9, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/07/30115745/Untitled-design-20-2.png)
