DJ Lagway Recruiting 'Class That Will Change' the Florida Gators
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On the first weekend of official visits in college football, the Florida Gators held one of the most star-studded visitors lists in the nation.
Welcoming a bevy of elite-tier talent to campus, Billy Napier’s program hit the ground running to make the 2024 cycle the “class that will change the program,” as several commits have expressed to this point.
The face of that endeavor, franchise quarterback pledge DJ Lagway, flew from Texas to Florida to serve as another voice on the trail. His prowess as a player-recruiter expectedly highlighted his trip to Gainesville.
“It was amazing,” Lagway told All Gators on Sunday about his role in establishing or continuing a bond with other prospective talents. “Built a lot of relationships with these guys, you know, so just trying to push them toward Florida 'cause there’s no better place than this. Just helping them enjoy their decision and take their time with it, and hopefully, it’s Florida.”
While 16 other official visitors appeared on campus alongside him, Lagway set his sights primarily on a fellow five-star throughout the weekend, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
The Ohio State commit from Opa Locka (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep is the nation’s top-rated wideout and No. 2 overall player in the country for the cycle. His pledge to the Buckeyes has rarely wavered — confirming hit loyalty to renowned wide receivers coach Brian Hartline and OSU on multiple occasions — despite the pursuit of other top programs.
It hasn’t stopped Smith from enjoying the process, though, keeping one ear open to the other possibilities at his fingertips.
The Gators quarterback commit is a leading voice for the other options available to Smith as he hopes to pair with the dynamic receiver at the next level. He convinced Smith to change his official visit date to the first weekend of June, so the two could experience the stay together.
Lagway feels he took advantage of the added face time he received with his potential top pass-catching target of the future.
“It was good,” he said. “You know, we spent a lot of time [together]. I feel like I have a relationship with him. He's a very quiet guy, but I feel like, with me and him, he opens up to me a little bit. We talk and just talk about some good stuff.”
Coming out of the weekend, the Willis (Texas) native kept a tight lid on his opinions surrounding Smith’s potential alignment with UF. However, he did share that he and the Gators coaching staff are pushing some of the right buttons.
“I’m going to keep quiet on that one,” he said. “I’m not going to talk about that. But, I feel like we’re doing the right stuff. That’s all I’ll say.”
As for his own recruitment, Florida did a “really good job” staying engaged with Lagway despite his commitment status to the University.
“I feel like they’re doing their thing, dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s,” Lagway said about the staff’s continued recruitment of him while he barters for fellow 2024 talent to join him at UF. “So, I feel like we're in the right spot at getting the best players in the country.”
Despite the strong grasp Lagway’s already garnered for what the Florida program offers on and off the field, the weekend wasn’t merely a recap.
He continued to learn and left comfortable with the quarterback development process Billy Napier, Ryan O’Hara and other off-field quarterback staffers have in place.
“I’d just say, like, just the QB development is top tier,” he said. “From Coach O’Hara, Coach Napier, all those guys, you know, just really learning from them. I just can't wait to get here and just grow and develop. That's the biggest thing for me.”
The multi-day stay at the program he elected to continue his football career in December consisted of further discussions regarding his future role as the team’s leading signal caller.
Increasingly In-depth breakdowns of the offense — and his responsibilities within — have become a norm as both sides look for Lagway to quickly acclimate for the spot once he arrives on campus. The process, mentally, has already started.
“We’ve been talking about the future, definitely see how I fit in. I fit in right away, get some acquisition, get some play time right away. So, I feel like it's going to be good.
However, although the quarterback position is in flux at Florida at the moment, providing the possibility for him to step in as a true freshman starter in the 2024 season, Lagway understands the demand of competition ahead.
“I got to work for all it and that's why I just can't wait to get here,” he said. “Just to work and continue to get better.”
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