The DJ Lagway era is over for Florida football, but apparently not long enough for his handlers to launch a Hail Mary of damage control for the fallen star quarterback.
Lagway’s tale of woe was told at length by USA Today colleague Matt Hayes of a depressed, reclusive quarterback who wasn’t handled properly by the Florida Gators despite receiving a multi-million dollar Name, Image and Likeness deal from Florida Victorious.
Cue the violins.
Lagway said he never stepped into a classroom during his two years at Florida, opting to take online courses instead because he was concerned with the potential onslaught of fan attention that comes with being a celebrity quarterback in the SEC.
Still, it was Lagway’s choice to stay away from campus. Plus, Lagway was spotted at several other UF sporting events during his two years on campus, including at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for Florida softball games to watch his former girlfriend and fellow Texan, Ava Brown.
As for the injuries, Lagway and his camp understood what they were getting into after he was shuttled around the country for second and third opinions while trying to recover from offseason groin and shoulder issues.
Why did Lagway and his handlers want to him push through and play at less than 100% during his sophomore year? Money. There were checks to cash and a brand to build, which couldn’t be done holding a clipboard on the sidelines.
So then came an offseason of lies and half-truths by both Lagway and former UF head coach Billy Napier about Lagway’s condition, while speculation ran rampant that he wasn’t right. At SEC football media days, Lagway claimed he was fully healthy.
“I don’t have a prosthetic arm,” Lagway told reporters.
It just seemed that way once September rolled around.
Why Florida football should have shut down DJ Lagway
As the adult in charge, Napier should have shut Lagway down for a redshirt year in 2025. But Napier was seduced by the potential Lagway showed in leading UF to a 6-1 record as a starter as a true freshman in 2024. If Lagway could tough that season out with a pulled hamstring and sore shoulder, he could surely do it again as a sophomore.
Napier feared alienating Lagway’s family and fretted over his own job status. Florida struck gold with Graham Mertz, but after that did a terrible job evaluating quarterbacks out of the portal under Napier. Neither Clay Millen (Colorado State) nor Harrison Bailey (Louisville) could beat out walk-on Aidan Warner on the depth chart, an indictment on head portal recruiter Bird Sherill, who left for the New York Jets before the start of Napier’s final season.
So, Napier calculated going into the 2025 season that a rusty, banged-up DJ Lagway was better than the alternative – true freshman Tramell Jones Jr. – despite the fact that Lagway barely took part in 11-on-11 drills all spring and summer. It wound up being a miscalculation that cost Napier his job. The debt was paid on the lies that Napier and Lagway told during a miserable September, which included Lagway throwing for five interceptions against LSU and just 61 yards against Miami as UF stumbled to a 1-3 start.
Jones, who remains in contact with Lagway since he transferred to Baylor last January, credited the former 2023 Gatorade High School player of the year for how hard he worked trying to get back on the field and the heat he took during UF’s 4-8 season.
“When he came back, it was just the mental piece, learning what he did, learning from his mistakes, and that’s what I came in to do,” Jones said. “I came to learn from DJ and compete with him, make him better, and push myself also.”
Accountability comes in many forms. Lagway could have taken a higher road, kept his mouth shut and dove into getting physically and mentally ready for his new challenge at Baylor. Instead, Lagway debased himself by playing the victim card.
Lagway doesn’t deserve Gator Nation’s sympathy. He made his choices and made his money. He only has himself to blame.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: DJ Lagway has no to one to blame but himself for his Florida football struggles | Brockway
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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