'We are going to change this place' Gators QB DJ Lagway is ready to become the next Gators legend
The Florida Gators were on the path to a disastrous season after blowout losses at home to Miami and Texas A&M. The offense was stagnant with Graham Mertz at the helm and there were injuries everywhere hindering them. Things were up and down after their loss to the Aggies and it seemed to get worse […]
The Florida Gators were on the path to a disastrous season after blowout losses at home to Miami and Texas A&M. The offense was stagnant with Graham Mertz at the helm and there were injuries everywhere hindering them.
Things were up and down after their loss to the Aggies and it seemed to get worse with Mertz suffering a torn ACL against Tennessee. Little did we know that a star would be born that October night and Saturday's game against the LSU Tigers cemented the beginning of a new era of Gator football.
Coming out of Willis, Texas, quarterback D.J. Lagway was a consensus five-star recruit and nearly led his high school team to the 6A state championship game. He committed to the Gators on December 7th, 2022 and didn't waver despite receiving heavy pressure from multiple other programs to flip.
It wouldn't have been a surprise to see him flip with the issues that Billy Napier was having and the hotseat he was on. However, Lagway stayed loyal to the Gators and it's paying off in a big way.
The Gators had lost five-consecutive games to the LSU Tigers heading into Saturday's game but Lagway found a way to snap the streak and he did so playing on one leg.
Lagway severely hurt his hamstring at the end of the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs, a game the Gators were leading 13-6. He parlayed that into a 27-16 win over LSU. He didn't have a single rushing attempt on Saturday and the Gators only held the ball for 18:17 of the game, but they won comfortably anyway due to incredible plays like this.
Even if Lagway is fully healthy, this is a special throw. These are the kinds of throws you see from Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes on Sundays. The Gators had someone similar in both frame and ability with Anthony Richardson just two years ago and Lagway might be a better passer already.
When Tim Tebow was on campus, the running game was king and, while he could still throw the ball, nobody kid themselves into thinking it was his forte. The last truly dynamic passer the Gators had was Rex Grossman in 2002 and Lagway has the traits to develop into the next truly great Gators signal caller.
He's not just supremely talented. Lagway is fully committed to bringing the Gators back to prominence. He said so after the game, and the entire team is feeling that way.
"That's the whole vibe in the locker room, that we are going to change this place and make it what it used to be."
This is what the Gators had in mind when they hired Napier and why they decided to keep him for the 2025 season. His recruiting would eventually catch up to what it should have been under Dan Mullen. Just this week, the Gators had two five-star cornerbacks on campus, including LSU commit D.J. Pickett.
Things are starting to turn for the better in Gainesville and it starts with the special talent under center. Napier's comments after the game say it all.
"God bless that young man."
