Florida's DJ Lagway Makes Clear Run at Highly Touted Recruit
To be a competitive team within the SEC, you need a talented roster, and throughout the offseason, the Florida Gators have done a good job ensuring they have one for future years.
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Florida's impressive 2026 recruiting class, which includes a total of 16 commits, ranks No. 5 in the SEC and No. 13 in the nation, with several players still up for grabs.
One prospect that the Gators have found themselves in the mix for is EDGE KJ Ford, who is deciding among them, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas A&M Aggies.
It would be a nice addition for any of these programs, and on Thursday, the Gators' starting quarterback DJ Lagway appealed to Ford, reposting the EDGE's top three reveal on his Instagram story, while writing "Come home fam @kj4ford."
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway's message to recruit KJ Ford.djlagway/Instagram
It's no surprise to see Lagway putting on a recruiter cap to help land a talent like Ford, as On3 ranks him as a four-star recruit, the No. 18 EDGE, the No. 18 player in Texas and the No. 116 player in the nation.
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In his two seasons at the varsity level for Duncanville High School, he's been effective, accumulating 110 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 33 hurries, 9.5 sacks, three pass deflections, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 245 pounds, he already has impressive size for someone who still has one more year of high school.
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier and quarterback DJ Lagway (2) Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Now, it remains to be seen if Lagway's small yet clear gesture toward Ford makes an impact on his interest toward Florida, as he will be making his commitment announcement on July 11.
Related: Georgia Commit Under Fire For Texas Comment After Snubbing Longhorns
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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