Face of the Franchise: QB DJ Lagway’s Signature a Monumental Win for Gators
Photo: DJ Lagway; Credit: Zach Goodall
The proverbial star shining through the treacherous storm that has hovered Gainesville of late is officially in the Gators' tow.
Once owning the No. 3 recruiting class in the country by the 247Sports' composite team rankings, the Gators were riding a high in the talent acquisition department with a firm foundation for the future of the roster.
But, the team's regression from year one to year two under head coach Billy Napier, dropping five straight games to conclude the 2023 season at 5-7, played a significant role in the departure of eight recruits in the final six weeks of the period from the formerly elite-caliber class.
On Early National Signing Day, UF lost defensive end Amaris Williams (Auburn), linebacker Adarius Hayes (Miami) and wide receiver Izaiah Williams (Texas A&M), joining a bevy of other decommitments, including five-star safety Xavier Filsaime's flip from UF to Texas on Monday afternoon.
Florida signees and eventual decommitments pose with Gators head coach Billy Napier during a visit to campus in the 2023 summer.
The promising compilation of talent quickly dispersed, resulting in a considerable drop in the rankings to No. 16 by the time ENSD concluded on Wednesday evening.
It was a rough close to the class once expected to, in the words of some current and former members, "change the program." Whether the attrition was expected or not, the loss of several near-immediate contributors stings for Napier and Co., who are entering a crucial third year at the helm in Gainesville.
It was met with due criticism. However, not all is lost.
Florida's slow finish on the recruiting trail shouldn't diminish the acquisitions of several high-caliber pieces expected to contribute almost immediately upon their arrival.
That includes the monumental signing of potential program-altering quarterback talent DJ Lagway.
Standing at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Lagway shined as an off-platform thrower with unparalleled arm strength during his three-year stint as a starter at the prep level. He showcased his ability to make any throw with or without a firm base.
His comfortability working out of the pocket jumps off his film, as he's often seen extending plays before firing layered fastballs in the short-to-intermediate field or well-placed, high-arcing deep balls downfield with a mere flick of the wrist. His baseball background allows him to do so with several different arm slots.
Lagway complemented that effort by using his legs as a rusher, displaying high-level athleticism that can fall under the radar to the average evaluator due to his eye-popping capacity as a gunslinger.
Any remaining scouting questions, mostly about his accuracy and pocket passing presence, were largely answered during his senior campaign as his completion percentage jumped by 16.6 percentage points from his sophomore season.
Sustainable accuracy and decision-making through fatigue were focal points for Lagway and his quarterbacks coach JP Tillman during the offseason preceding his final year at Willis (Texas) High.
He finished as an Elite 11 Finalist in the summer before logging a MaxPreps National Player of the Year-worthy campaign for the Wildkats en route to a 12-1 record. Lagway accounted for 4,604 yards, 58 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 72.1% completion as a passer while supplementing his air production with 957 yards and 16 scores rushing in 2023.
The showing solidified his standing as a marquee dual-threat signal caller, which can considerably elevate the Florida offense into a dangerous multidimensional attack under his command.
On top of the elite-level physical ability he brings to the table, Lagway flashed the uber-important interpersonal skillset during his time as the Gators' main player-recruiter in the 2024 cycle. The trait is likened to that of a thoroughbred leader from the position most often looked to in dire situations.
"Ultimately, we all know DJ's talented, but that's not what makes him exceptional, in my opinion," Napier said during his press conference on Wednesday. "It's these intangible things that make him a difference-maker. So DJ Lagway, he's talented, but there's a lot more to that young man than just the talent."
He showcased it — on a smaller scale — soon after making the year-long pledge to the Florida program official on Wednesday via Twitter.
"You either gone win with us, or watch us win," Lagway typed.
His influence in that area, combined with the aforementioned top-tier skillset, has been missed in the Florida locker room for well over the past decade.
As a result, even as an incoming freshman, the Lone Star State passer will likely assert himself into a vital role within the Florida locker room. It's a testament to the character Napier regards so highly when picking out prospective talent and has the potential to pay dividends when Lagway's number is inevitably called to take over at the Gators' helm.
In year one, Lagway is expected to undergo a ramp-up year as Florida welcomes back incumbent starting quarterback Graham Mertz for his sixth collegiate season.
The former Wisconsin transfer, who resurrected his career at the University of Florida with his best year to date in 2023, enabled UF to realize an uptick in offensive success in the closing games of the year with his pinpoint accuracy and improved ball security, although the production didn't necessarily correlate to victories.
He'll provide a critical mentor figure for the uber-talented youngster in the quarterback's room in 2024, offering Lagway considerable wisdom to grow mentally toward taking over the starting spot in 2025.
Gators QB pledge DJ Lagway observed starting quarterback Graham Mertz during Florida's 2023 fall practice session.
Zach Goodall
"I told DJ last week ... when we look back at DJ's career, we're going to say that one of the more impactful decisions in his career was the fact that Graham Mertz made the decision to play an additional year of football, and I think Graham's a professional.
"He's certainly had a good year, but I think, more importantly, DJ's going to get a chance to observe a guy who knows how to prepare, knows how to lead, understands the attention to detail, the discipline. What does that year-round process look like to be a college quarterback at this level? And DJ's transition would have been a lot more difficult if Graham wasn't here."
Lagway is expected to command an on-field role in specific packages for the Gators in relief of Mertz as a freshman, most likely to inject more life into the team's rushing attack through read-option and designed quarterback run concepts.
As a result, Lagway's standing in the class is more than a mere bandaid on an otherwise lackluster effort to close the cycle.
It's instead a crucial point in the history of Napier's tenure, as the potential program savior he acquired a commitment from over a year ago gears up to head to campus in January with sights set on guiding the University of Florida.
The path to swing the squad's current trajectory remains an uphill climb.
But, with a player like Lagway at the forefront of the effort, the hike toward the mountaintop becomes slightly less steep.
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