WATCH: DJ Lagway reacts to LSU win, his return from injury

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway returning to the starting lineup on Saturday and helped lead the Gators to a 27-16 win over LSU. Lagway missed his first game of the season at Texas with a hamstring injury.

He was day-to-day this week, listed as questionable on Wednesday and cleared to play Thursday. Lagway threw for 226 yards and one touchdown on 13 of 26 passing with a 135.7 rating. Below is everything he said after the game.

RELATED: Takeaways from the Florida Gators’ 27-16 win over the LSU Tigers

DJ Lagway Q&A

On what this week was like for him:

DJ LAGWAY: The week, there was a lot of stuff going on this week just preparing my body, making sure my body was 100 percent, or just feeling good enough to go out there and play, and also having to prepare on the mental side of it. So it was definitely a challenging week.

But kudos to my coaches and the medical team, they’ve helped me so much. They’re the best in the country. I can say that because they helped me get back up to speed as fast as possible.

On telling Napier ‘I’m playing’ this week:

DJ LAGWAY: Oh, yeah. I just made a statement. I’ve got to get out there and play for my guys. I feel like they rallied around me very well. I feel like they play well around me, and I’m just thank thankful to have a great support cast.

The offensive line played their butt off. We had no sacks. And I was limited today. So it was kudos to those guys. Receivers making heck of a play. Tight ends making plays. Tight ends blocking. Running backs making heck of runs, and it was a great offensive effort. And even defense played well. Special teams too. All around great win.

On his 36-yard throw to Elijhah Badger:

DJ LAGWAY: Just somebody gotta make the play. And why not me? That’s my thought process. Always want to be a game-changer, want to change the game. When the big plays arrive, I’ve got to make the play. That’s what Coach Napier recruited me for. Blessed to have the opportunity to make the play.

On if UF limited the playbook for him:

DJ LAGWAY: Yeah, just I feel like Coach Napier and the offensive staff did an amazing job of game planning, just my strengths and weaknesses for this week.

I feel like this week taught me a lot, just learning how to truly play in the pocket and maneuver and trust in the O line and trust in all the guys around me. It was a great week. I’m excited for it.

On his confidence level with the offense:

DJ LAGWAY: My confidence level in this offense has jumped up tremendously. Having Coach Napier and Coach O’Hara and Graham Mertz helping me in different situations, and I feel like that’s one part of my game that I want to develop and continue to get better, being a situational expert, as Coach Napier would say. That’s something I continue to work on daily.

On the moment he got injured vs. Georgia:

DJ LAGWAY: That moment was definitely eye opening. It was definitely an experience that I won’t forget because I feel like we were having great momentum in that game, and I feel like my teammates, they rallied behind me.

When they all came up to me on the cart, that meant a lot to me. It showed how much my guys love me and I love them and that’s definitely a moment I won’t forget.

On what he was saying as he got carted off:

DJ LAGWAY: I remember. I can’t say it, though. I was talking trash — I can’t say much.

On going through pregame warmups at Texas:

DJ LAGWAY: In the Texas game, I feel like that whole week I was very ginger on the leg. I didn’t really practice, didn’t do no team reps. Saturday, that was the best it’s felt. I felt like I could move around a little better but I wasn’t game-ready. I trusted in Coach Napier and the training staff for making that decision, having to make that decision.

On if he saw something pre-snap before 36-yard throw to Badger:

DJ LAGWAY: Yes, most definitely. That play, I thought I was getting cat pressure, like a quarterback blitz. They ended up dropping out. I knew I had that area. I could have hit Chim on that finger route, like a sail route, but I got to Badge and he made a heck of a catch. O line protected well. It was great.

On his reaction to Billy Napier returning for 2025:

DJ LAGWAY: Means a lot, being the second year in offense is huge. Just having the guys rally behind that and truly like we’re going to change this. And that’s the whole vibe in the locker room, that we’re going to change this place and we’re going to make it what it used to be.

I feel like on a recruiting standpoint, I felt it was huge as well. I had a lot of guys hit me up after they’ve seen that, texting me, trying to see what’s going on. But yeah, it’s great.

On if he felt hindered at all with his running ability:

DJ LAGWAY: Yeah, I just feel like this game, I took it as a challenge. I knew I wasn’t 100 percent healthy. I took it as a challenge to prove to myself I could do it and play in the pocket. And I don’t really need to use my legs. I could maneuver in the pocket and make different throws. I feel it was a huge confidence builder for me.

On if he thought he would be playing two weeks after being carted off the field:

DJ LAGWAY: No, sir, I did not think I was going to be standing here. By the grace of God I’m good. And I feel like, like I said, the training staff were amazing. I really couldn’t get up when I had that injury. I was really in pain. I’m not the guy to lay on a field. Never do stuff like that.

My parents, they came out of the stands. They know the type of guy I am. They were definitely worried about it. But by the grace of God, I got back and got healthy, my guys.

On how he developed his quick release:

DJ LAGWAY: Just my training. I’m recently new to the quarterback. I just started training my sophomore year. It’s a daily learning experience. That’s why I really chose the Florida Gators because Coach Napier, here they develop me every single day and I feel I’m trending up to being a better quarterback. My training. QB training with Tillman, training with him before I could even throw a football. So it’s been great.

On how long his training goes back:

DJ LAGWAY: Really, I’d say, going into my sophomore year. So like ninth grade, around this time, in the ninth grade season.

On his message to recruits on UF:

DJ LAGWAY: My kind of response to that is we’ve got the best fan base in the country. We’ve got coaches that care and that’s going to develop you, make you a better player and person on and off the field. So that’s kind of how I see it.

On the 1-2 punch of Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson:

DJ LAGWAY: Those guys are great. I’ve seen what they had since spring. So I feel like those guys have been playing their butts off. Helped me tremendously to be able to push the ball down the field, knowing the run game is going hard. Kudos to the O line. They’ve been playing amazing football. So it’s been great.

On what percentage he was at tonight:

DJ LAGWAY: I’d say I was healthy enough to move around the pocket, let’s say that. That’s all I can really say about that.

On how much more progress he’ll make in the coming weeks:

DJ LAGWAY: I feel today was a big step forward. I didn’t have any setbacks. It was great. I felt good. I didn’t really have anything grab up on me much. Because my O line, they did a heck of a job, kept me in there kept me on the edges, and even in front, it was great.

On his chemistry with Elijhah Badger:

DJ LAGWAY: We have an amazing connection. Like I said, we’ve been working since the offseason, and I feel like kudos to that, the hard work we’ve put in and the summer workouts and the player-led workouts, and just being able to trust my guys to go make the plays. I have trust for all my receivers. I feel I have a bond and chemistry with those guys to make plays.

On what makes him such a deep threat:

DJ LAGWAY: The way he excels when the ball’s in the air. I can just put it up there, he’ll go get it. Today was the first time I’ve overthrown it and he still caught the ball.