Florida Gators 2025 Position Preview: Quarterbacks
There are fewer than 50 days until the Florida Gators kick off their 2025 college football season. Florida is coming off an 8-5 season last year, finishing on a four-game winning streak.
Advertisement
Now, with head coach Billy Napier heading into his fourth year in Gainesville, the Florida faithful are expecting big things from the Gators, including hopes of a College Football Playoff birth.
This quest for postseason glory starts at the quarterback position. While there is not much doubt about who the starter will be, as there is no battle for the top of the depth chart, the way the rest of Florida's quarterbacks shape out will be very interesting to watch.
Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Aidan Warner (16) and Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) smile after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images© Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Star sophomore DJ Lagway is the undisputed starter at the signal-caller position for the Gators this fall. After taking over for an injured Graham Mertz last year, Lagway shined for quarterbacks coach Ryan O'Hara and Florida.
Advertisement
Lagway was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 quarterback in the country coming out of Willis High School in Texas prior to his freshman year, per 247Sports. In 2024, Lagway completed 59.9% of his passes for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions. These impressive numbers led to a selection on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.
Coming off a shoulder injury that kept him from throwing during Florida's spring game, Lagway will look to improve his 6-1 record as a starter in 2025.
After Lagway at the top of the depth chart, there are questions about who will be the Gators' backup. The battle for the No. 2 spot will be between graduate transfer Harrison Bailey and redshirt sophomore Aidan Warner.
Bailey comes to Florida after stops with Tennessee, UNLV and Louisville. In his career, the Marietta, Georgia, native has completed 108 of his 171 passes for 1,190 yards and 10 scores with three interceptions. Bailey played in five games last year with the Cardinals, including a start in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, in which he threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Advertisement
Warner was Florida's third-string going into 2024 after transferring from Yale, but injuries to Mertz and Lagway gave him opportunities to play in six games, including making a start against the Texas Longhorns. Warner completed 42% of his passes for 228 yards and three interceptions without a touchdown in those appearances.
Based on experience and the way the two competed during spring practices, it seems like Bailey is leaning toward becoming Lagway's backup, but only time will tell.
With the future of Florida's football program lying in the hands of Lagway, there are lots of expectations for the sophomore and this position group going into 2025.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Baltimore RHP Grayson Rodriguez to have season-ending elbow surgery
PHILADELPHIA — Baltimore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez will have season-ending surgery on his pitching elbow next week. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino made the announcement before Monday's game in Philadelphia. Rodriguez started the season on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation that flared up in spring training. A rehab outing scheduled for April 17 was canceled because of a strained lat muscle. The 2018 first-round draft pick, who missed three months of the minor league season in 2022 with a lat injury, hasn't pitched in the majors since July 31, 2024. He finished last season on the IL with a strained lat.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Red Sox ride Duran HR, strong outing from Bello to 6th straight win, beating Royals 8-5
BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran hit a three-run homer and Brayan Bello pitched six effective innings, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Monday night for their sixth consecutive victory. Rob Refsnyder drove in two runs, and Duran added a leaping, run-saving catch in front of the Green Monster in the fourth. Bello (8-5) allowed an unearned run and six hits. The right-hander has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his last 14 outings. The Royals got back-to-back home runs from Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia off Jorge Alcala as part of a four-run eighth. But Aroldis Chapman handled the ninth for his 21st save. Royals starter Bailey Falter (7-6) was pulled after four innings. He was charged with seven runs and eight hits. Refsnyder put the Red Sox in front with a two-run single in the first. Duran then pushed the lead to 5-0 with two out, hitting a 419-foot drive deep to center for his 12th homer. Boston rookie Roman Anthony was scratched from his scheduled start in right field due to mid-back tightness. He was replaced by Wilyer Abreu. Key moment With Boston leading 8-5 in the eighth, Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. singled to right field. Nick Loftin attempted to score from second, but Abreu's throw from right beat him and Loftin was tagged out in a collision with catcher Connor Wong. The Royals challenged, arguing Wong illegally blocked the plate, but it was upheld after a video review. Key stat The Red Sox have outscored their opponents 44-16 during their win streak. Up next Rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.78 ERA) starts for Kansas City on Tuesday night, and left-hander Garrett Crochet (12-4, 2.23 ERA) goes for the Red Sox. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo still 'evaluating future' amidst trade rumors
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo still 'evaluating future' amidst trade rumors originally appeared on The Sporting News English rock band The Clash wrote a massively big single in the year 1981, titled, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" No other song could better describe the situation that concerns Milwaukee Bucks star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future in the NBA. The two-time MVP has been at the center of trade talks ever since the Bucks faced an early playoff exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in five games in the very first round, which saw Antetokounmpo average 33 points, after finishing 48-34 in the regular season. Giannis himself was yet again in the MVP conversation after averaging 30.4 points per game for the second straight season along with 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 67 games played. And according to an official report by senior NBA insider Shams Charania, there is still no official word on the next move in "The Greek Freak's" future Hall of Fame career. Charania reported that Giannis was continuing to evaluate the future of his career, and that "nothing was set in stone" regarding the star big man staying or leaving Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo has shown signs that he could potentially find a new team, such as unfollowing the team on Instagram especially shortly after the team released star guard Damian Lillard. We don't know what Giannis is going to do, but just like that Clash song from the 80s sings, if Giannis goes, there will be trouble in Milwaukee.
