DJ Lagway

DJ Lagway
Florida Gators – No. 2
PositionQuarterback
ClassFreshman
Personal information
Born: (2005-08-13) August 13, 2005 (age 19)
Willis, Texas
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolWillis (Willis, Texas)
Career highlights and awards

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

Early life

Lagway attended Willis High School in Willis, Texas.[2][3] As a junior in 2022, he passed for 2,081 yards with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions.[4] Prior to his senior season in 2023, Lagway participated in the Elite 11.[5] 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.[6][7] He was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year[8] and Mr. Texas Football.[9] For his career, Lagway had 8,392 passing yards and 100 passing touchdowns with 2,196 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns.[10]

A five-star recruit, Lagway committed to the University of Florida to play college football.[11][12][13]

College career

Lagway entered his true freshman season with the Florida Gators in 2024 as the backup to Graham Mertz.[14] After Mertz was placed in concussion protocol following the season opener against Miami, Lagway was named the starting quarterback against Samford.[15] Mertz suffered a season-ending injury against Tennessee and Lagway was inserted as the team's starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.[16]

Statistics

Season Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
Florida Gators
2024 12 7 6–1 115 192 59.9 1,915 10.0 12 9 154.9 51 101 2.0 0
Career 12 7 6–1 115 192 59.9 1,915 10.0 12 9 154.9 51 101 2.0 0

Personal life

He is the son of Derek and Nikita Nephew Lagway. His father, Derek Lagway, played college football at Baylor University.[17]

References

  1. ^ Smajovits, Harrison (December 20, 2024). "Gators QB DJ Lagway Takes Home Gasparilla Bowl MVP". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  2. ^ Montaño, Alvaro (September 21, 2023). "DJ Lagway, Willis finding a groove early in season". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Shugan, Zach (July 22, 2024). "DJ Lagway, Florida Gators 5-star quarterback commit, continues dominant senior year". Capital Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Silva II, Dennis (June 12, 2023). "Willis' Lagway excited for Elite 11 finals". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Thompson, Edgar (December 20, 2023). "QB DJ Lagway checks all boxes for Gators coach Billy Napier". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Poorman, Jon (December 19, 2023). "Willis QB D.J. Lagway named MaxPreps National Player of the Year". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Baumgartner, Blake (December 7, 2022). "Lagway, top-dual threat QB for '24, picks Gators". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Dubbin, Adam (August 26, 2024). "ESPN predicts DJ Lagway's role with Florida during his freshman year". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Adelson, Andrea (September 4, 2024). "With Mertz out, UF to start freshman QB Lagway". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Smajovits, Harrison (October 14, 2024). "DJ Lagway Starting QB Going Forward for Florida Gators". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  17. ^ Davenport, Richard (March 13, 2022). "Elite QB has 'amazing' Arkansas visit". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved July 5, 2024.