Florida Gators have unlocked major aspect of DJ Lagway’s game that Billy Napier refused to tap into, and it nearly resulted in a win vs. Ole Miss

It’s about time that the Gators unleashed DJ Lagway.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Nov 15, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) scrambles against Mississippi Rebels linebacker TJ Dottery (6) during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway was one of the biggest reasons why there was so much excitement about this season. He thrived last year in the final four games, showcasing the immense talent that he came into Gainesville with as a five-star recruit out of Willis, Texas.

This season has been one to forget for the Gators, especially Lagway. After spending the entire offseason dealing with shoulder, calf, and hernia surgeries, it’s been a very up-and-down year for Lagway. Against the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday, we finally saw an evolution in Lagway’s game that the fans have been begging for.

Florida Gators are finally unleashing DJ Lagway as a runner

We’ve seen how much arm talent Lagway has. He can make any throw from any angle. It’s a legitimate superpower that can elevate the offense to a new level. We’ve seen plenty of wow throws from Lagway, and he even had one this Saturday with a perfect deep ball touchdown to J. Michael Sturdivant.

The one thing that we haven’t gotten to see much of this season has been Lagway running the football. Over the past couple of weeks, the Gators have finally tried to use his rushing ability, and it’s worked.

“I think anytime you have a quarterback that has the ability to run, it puts the defense in a situation now they’ve got to defend it,” said interim head coach Billy Gonzales. “Obviously, we knew Trinidad [Chambliss] was a really good runner, and talked about being able to contain him. He had a net of 10 yards, so the defense did a really good job of containing him, but it adds a different dimension to the offense when you have a quarterback that can run the ball as well.”

That element was important in helping to elevate the Gators on Saturday night in Oxford. He was sacked just one time among his eight rushes for 34 yards and a touchdown, and that score showed exactly what the Gators have been missing from their offense. It’s also something that Billy Napier never asked him to do, especially post-hamstring injury. Could some of that have been due to the worry about Lagway’s long-term health? There’s a good chance it was the case, but right now, he’s elevating the offense in a way they desperately needed.

If Lane Kiffin eventually comes to Gainesville, Lagway would fit perfectly in what his offense is, as he has more talent than Chambliss does. Imagine what he can do with an offensive guru.

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