Florida Gators recruiting continues momentum into 2026 after being named by elite five-star that can help DJ Lagway

The DJ Lagway effect for the Florida Gators has been huge over the last few months.  Once Graham Mertz went down with a torn ACL, Lagway took over and was excellent down the stretch for the Gators. He finished his true freshman season with a record of 5-1 as a starter, but that loss came […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Nov 23, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks on against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

The DJ Lagway effect for the Florida Gators has been huge over the last few months. 

Once Graham Mertz went down with a torn ACL, Lagway took over and was excellent down the stretch for the Gators. He finished his true freshman season with a record of 5-1 as a starter, but that loss came against the Georgia Bulldogs when he severely injured his hamstring.

His gravity, along with the defense stepping up in a major way elevated the Gators during their brutal five-game stretch. During the preseason, there were discussions that the Gators wouldn't win a single game in that stretch, but they went 3-2 and were a Lagway injury from beating the Bulldogs.

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Florida Gators in contention for 2026 five-star

Head coach Billy Napier is doing a great job recruiting and coming off of the 11th-best class in the nation. That momentum is continuing into the 2026 class, as five-star wide receiver and top 10 recruit Tristen Keys named the Gators as one of his top 12 schools.

The 6'-2, 185 lb. playmaker from Hattiesburg, Mississippi narrowed his list down to 12 on Wednesday, but the Gators still have a lot of work to do. Keys has already taken 11 unofficial visits to six schools.

  • Ole Miss: 4
  • Tennessee: 2
  • Auburn: 2
  • LSU: 1
  • Texas A&M: 1
  • Alabama: 1

The good part for the Gators is having Lagway in tow. His gravity, along with a wide receiver corps that has incoming five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson and four-star Vernell Brown, along with senior transfer portal commit J. Michael Sturdivant and soon-to-be junior Trey Wilson. The latter two are likely to enter the NFL Draft after the 2025 season, leaving a gap for a player with Keys' talent to slide in if he indeed chooses the Gators.

Being in contention for a five-star of Keys' caliber is a great sign for the future.

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