Watch: Highlights From QB DJ Lagway's First Florida Practice
Photo: Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2), head coach Billy Napier; Credit: Zach Goodall
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The prize of Florida's 2024 recruiting class and the consensus highest-rated prospect to align with the Gators in almost a decade, quarterback DJ Lagway, took the gridiron in orange and blue for the first time on Saturday, participating in UF's first spring training camp practice of the year.
A compilation of clips from Lagway's workout, from individual drills during the media viewing window of the practice, can be observed in the video at the top of this story.
Lagway, who enrolled at UF in January from Willis (Texas) High School, operated as the second quarterback in drills, behind incumbent starter Graham Mertz. That is unless there were two route-runners on the field, a scenario in which the quarterbacks threw passes at the same time.
The quarterbacks targeted an assortment of routes, including but not limited to outs, slants, hitches, corners and nines.
Lagway was arguably most impressive while targeting intermediate-to-deep routes, displaying the arm strength that made him such a coveted recruit.
Two of his best passes in the viewing period were on corner routes, caught by redshirt junior receiver Kahleil Jackson in the back-right corner of the endzone and senior wideout Ja'Quavion Fraizars on the right sideline. Although the routes were on-air, the football was placed where only the receiver could catch it on both throws.
Lagway also connected with Jackson on a nine-route, outside the numbers and down the right sideline, which the pass-catcher hauled in right around the goal line.
There is plenty of room for Lagway to continue developing, according to UF head coach Billy Napier, and reasonably so. While Lagway tore up the gridiron of high school football, scoring 129 total touchdowns in his career including 74 as a senior, there is an acclimation process for all prep prospects as they transition to college, especially quarterbacks.
Still, Thursday's showing offered Florida coaches, beat reporters and fans (via social media) alike a taste of the flavor Lagway will bring to the Gators' offense.
"I see a kid who loves to play and he’s fun to coach," Napier described Lagway. "He's got unique ability – the size, the athleticism, the arm talent. But probably the best thing about him is just the work ethic, the desire to learn, the perspective and understanding and awareness that he knows he's got a lot of work to do to get better.
"But finally to see him in a football setting and just let him go play, just to see him smiling and having a good time. He loves the game, and that was very apparent out there today."
Florida will return to the Sanders Football Practice Fields for day two of spring training camp on Saturday.
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