DJ Lagway

Last updated

DJ Lagway
2024-1220 Gasparilla Bowl DJ Lagway.jpg
Lagway after the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl
Florida Gators–No. 2
Position Quarterback
ClassSophomore
Personal information
Born: (2005-08-13) August 13, 2005 (age 19)
Willis, Texas, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight241 lb (109 kg)
Career history
College
High school Willis (Willis, Texas)
Career highlights and awards

Derek "DJ" Lagway Jr. (born August 13, 2005) is an American football quarterback for the Florida Gators.

Contents

Early life

Lagway attended Willis High School in Willis, Texas. [1] [2] As a junior in 2022, he passed for 2,081 yards with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions. [3] Prior to his senior season in 2023, Lagway participated in the Elite 11. [4] As a senior, he passed for 4,631 yards with a Texas Class 6A record 58 touchdown passes, and added 975 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns. [5] [6] He was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year [7] and Mr. Texas Football. [8] For his career, Lagway had 8,392 passing yards and 100 passing touchdowns with 2,196 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns. [9]

A five-star recruit, Lagway committed to the University of Florida to play college football. [10] [11] [12]

College career

2024: Freshman Season

Lagway entered his true freshman season with the Florida Gators in 2024 as the backup to Graham Mertz. [13] After Mertz was placed in concussion protocol following the season opener against Miami, Lagway was named the starting quarterback against Samford. [14] In his first ever start, Lagway threw for 456 yards and 3 touchdowns. [15] Over the following few games, Lagway split playing time with Mertz. [16] Mertz suffered a season-ending injury against Tennessee and Lagway was inserted as the team's starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. [17]

Lagway's first game after Mertz's injury was a 48-20 victory over rival Kentucky. In his start against Georgia, Lagway suffered a left hamstring injury and was carted off. [18] After missing only one game of action, he returned for the final three games of the regular season, defeating #22 LSU, #9 Ole Miss, and Florida State. [19] He also started when the Gators defeated Tulane 33-8 in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl.

In his seven starts, he helped lead Florida to a 6–1 record and a bowl win. [20]

Statistics

SeasonTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2024 Florida 1276–111519259.91,91510.0129154.9511012.00
Career 1276–111519259.91,91510.0129154.9511012.00

Personal life

He is the son of Derek and Nikita Nephew Lagway. His father, Derek Lagway, played college football at Baylor University. [21]

References

  1. ↑ Montaño, Alvaro (September 21, 2023). "DJ Lagway, Willis finding a groove early in season". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Shugan, Zach (July 22, 2024). "DJ Lagway, Florida Gators 5-star quarterback commit, continues dominant senior year". Capital Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  3. ↑ Taylor, G. Allan (December 8, 2022). "Taylor: Gators' addition of 5-star quarterback DJ Lagway signals better days ahead". The Athletic. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  4. ↑ Silva II, Dennis (June 12, 2023). "Willis' Lagway excited for Elite 11 finals". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Thompson, Edgar (December 20, 2023). "QB DJ Lagway checks all boxes for Gators coach Billy Napier". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ Silva II, Dennis (November 24, 2023). "Willis QB D.J. Lagway nears state TD passing record". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ↑ Poorman, Jon (December 19, 2023). "Willis QB D.J. Lagway named MaxPreps National Player of the Year". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ "No. 1 QB DJ Lagway Signs with Florida: 'I'm Even More a Gator'". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. December 25, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  9. ↑ Tate, Rob (December 20, 2023). "Unswayed by late overtures, Willis' D.J. Lagway signs with Florida". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ Baumgartner, Blake (December 7, 2022). "Lagway, top-dual threat QB for '24, picks Gators". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  11. ↑ Kercheval, Ben (December 7, 2022). "Florida football recruiting: DJ Lagway, four-star QB prospect in 2024 class, commits to Gators". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  12. ↑ Wasserman, Ari (February 7, 2023). "Why 5-star QB DJ Lagway is the perfect recruit at the perfect time for Florida". The Athletic. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ Dubbin, Adam (August 26, 2024). "ESPN predicts DJ Lagway's role with Florida during his freshman year". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  14. ↑ Adelson, Andrea (September 4, 2024). "With Mertz out, UF to start freshman QB Lagway". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Florida 45-7 Samford (Sep 7, 2024) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  16. ↑ Brockway, Kevin. "Florida football: Billy Napier says UF will use QBs DJ Lagway, Graham Mertz in SEC opener vs Texas A&M". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  17. ↑ Smajovits, Harrison (October 14, 2024). "DJ Lagway Starting QB Going Forward for Florida Gators". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Lagway Injured, Carted Off Field". Florida Gators. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Florida Gators 2024 Regular Season NCAAF Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  20. ↑ "DJ Lagway 2024 Stats per Game - NCAAF". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ Davenport, Richard (March 13, 2022). "Elite QB has 'amazing' Arkansas visit". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
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