Latest news with #DJLagway
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Initial FPI rankings place Florida in College Football Playoff picture
Initial FPI rankings place Florida in College Football Playoff picture Florida's return to national prominence in 2025 appears likely, with DJ Lagway leading the offense. ESPN's recent relaunch of the College Football Power Index has the Gators among the top 20 teams in contention for an NCAA Championship. Florida sits at No. 18 on the 2025 College FPI with a 14.3 power index. ESPN projects the Gators to finish the 2025 season with a 6.4-5.6 record and gives UF a 68.2% chance to reach six wins (bowl eligibility). But Florida also plays the toughest schedule in the country, according to ESPN, which means a seven-win season could be enough to sneak into the playoffs. Florida's CFP odds sit at a surprisingly high 14.5%, and 0.7% odds to win the national championship are the 19th best. "FPI is a predictive rating system that estimates each FBS team's strength (in points per game relative to the national average) on offense, defense and special teams, making adjustments for starters lost, recruiting talent and other personnel changes," Paine reminds us. "Those numbers are then plugged into the schedule, and everything is simulated 20,000 times to track each team's odds of winning its conference, making the playoff and advancing through to the national title." FPI projects the SEC to send 4.6 teams to the College Football Playoff this year, with Alabama, Georgia and Texas being the strongest candidates. Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M make up the next tier of SEC teams, with South Carolina and Oklahoma on the outer edge. Florida is behind all of them, but a few key wins could change things. ESPN highlights an Oct. 4 matchup with Texas and the Georgia game on Nov. 1 as the most anticipated games on Florida's schedule, ranking Nos. 6 and 15 on the national schedule. The biggest reason for optimism is Florida being ranked inside the top 20 on both offense and defense. The Gators' 7.0 offensive FPI ranks No. 14 and is the result of a 27-spot jump over the offseason. On defense, a 6.4 rating is good for No. 16 in the country, one spot up from the last update. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Beats Out Three SEC Rivals For Elite OL Recruit
Florida Beats Out Three SEC Rivals For Elite OL Recruit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last season, the Florida Gators won eight games for the first time since 2020. Leading the offense for the second half of the season was quarterback DJ Lagway, a five-star true freshman quarterback and the future of the program. With his health a priority for at least the next two seasons, Florida added a key building block to their future offensive line on Sunday. Advertisement Hayes Fawcett of On3 reported that G'Nivre Carr, a towering 6-foot-5, 320-pound interior lineman, has committed to Florida's 2026 class. The three-star recruit chose the Gators over SEC rivals Tennessee and South Carolina. He also held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, among others. © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images "Once a Gator, always a Gator! Proud to be a Gator 5=1🐊," Carr said in a statement per Fawcett. Carr becomes the third hard commit in Florida's 2026 class, joining defensive lineman Jamir Perez and quarterback Will Griffin. His commitment signals another long-term win for third-year head coach Billy Napier, who has gone 19-19 in Gainesville but is fresh off his best season at the helm with the Gators. Advertisement Carr's path could align perfectly with the rise of former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, who threw 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a true freshman last fall. By 2026, Lagway will be in his third season under center, with Carr potentially ready to shore up any holes on the offensive line. Following the conclusion of this season, Florida will graduate multiple seniors on the offensive line, including veteran guard Damieon George Jr. Noel Portnjagin and Roderick Kearney sit as the only non-upperclassmen on the two-deep of Florida's depth chart, per Ourlads. Related: College Basketball World Reacts to Xaivian Lee's $6 Million NIL Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Florida football QB DJ Lagway, Tim Tebow appear on EA Sports College Football 26 cover
Florida football QB DJ Lagway, Tim Tebow appear on EA Sports College Football 26 cover EA Sports revealed the Deluxe Edition cover for its upcoming College Football 26 video game on Tuesday, and two Florida Gators are front and center. Current Florida football quarterback DJ Lagway and legendary Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow appear side by side in the latest edition of the popular franchise's deluxe sleeve. The cover photo, packed with prominent past and present college football figures, highlights both the future and history of Florida football. Lagway, heading into his sophomore season, is expected to play a pivotal role for the Gators this fall. As a freshman, Lagway played in 12 games and started seven of them, garnering a 6-1 record. He passed for 1,915 yards with a 59.9 percent completion rate, logged 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Tebow, widely considered one of the greatest college football players of all time, led the Gators to two national championships during his career and won the Heisman Trophy in 2007. Other notable names on the Deluxe Edition cover of College Football 26 Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith are the two names on the front of the Deluxe Edition cover. Other current players include Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and Penn State running back Nick Singleton. Coaches like the Georgia Bulldogs' Kirby Smart, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman, Ole Miss Rebels' Lane Kiffin and Ohio State's Ryan Day are included. Former EA cover stars are also featured, including former USC Trojans running back Reggie Bush and Michigan Wolverines running back Denard Robinson. College Football 26 release date information The game is scheduled for release on July 10, with pre-orders readily available. It marks the second installment since the series returned following a decade-long hiatus and the implementation of NIL rules allowing player likenesses. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
DJ Lagway's Confidant Gives Health Update, Sends Subtle Warning To Competitors
It was a solid year for the Florida Gators and head coach Billy Napier, compiling an 8-5 record, marking their first winning season since 2020 and defeating the Tulane Green Wave 33-8 in the Gasparilla Bowl. One of the biggest storylines throughout their season was the emergence of true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, who, unfortunately, throughout this offseason, has been battling a lower-body and shoulder injury. Advertisement His road to being fully healthy seems to be going well, though, with Deiric Jackson, the CEO and Owner of Legacy Sports Advisors, who represent the quarterback, offering an update and warning to other teams. "He's healthy now; he's going to have his full arsenal," Jackson said via On3's Keith Niebuhr. "People have not seen his full arsenal. Not even close. I'm looking forward to seeing it this upcoming season.' Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2).Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images That's amazing news, as he already showed flashes of greatness last season, completing 115-of-192 passes for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 154.9 passing efficiency rating. Advertisement Those solid numbers led Lagway to being named Freshman All-American by several organizations, including ESPN and the Football Writers Association of America. He also finished the 2024 season off on a relatively high note, being named the Gasparilla Bowl MVP after completing 22-of-35 passes for, one touchdown and two interceptions. It will remain to be seen if Lagway can help Florida take another step in the right direction in 2025, as they have what could be seen as low expectations with ESPN BET giving them the 10th-best odds (+3000) of winning the SEC. Related: Major College Football Program Lands Third Transfer Portal QB
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Exciting DJ Lagway News Revealed on Thursday
Fans in Gainesville are well aware that they have a star on their hands in Florida quarterback DJ Lagway. The former five-star recruit and Gatorade National Player of the Year wasn't initially tabbed as the starter, but stepped up when veteran quarterback Graham Mertz went down with an injury. Lagway ended up leading the Gators to a 6-1 record despite being a bit banged up, and has fans hoping that he can end the program's past woes as they head into 2025. Advertisement While he was extremely limited in spring due to an upper and lower body injury, barring any major setbacks, Lagway should be ready to open the year. With there being around 100 days until the season, fans are looking for anything to get excited about, and on Thursday, they got just that. As shared by Billy Napier's brother, Kurt Napier, Lagway posed with Florida legend Tim Tebow during a photo shoot for the cover of EA Sports College Football 26. According to On3's Pete Nakos, Lagway is one of nine current athletes who will be on the cover of the next rendition of the game. "Sources told On3 that Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart were all in attendance," wrote Nakos back in March on the initial cover shoot. Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2).Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Tebow isn't the only former college football star expected to be on one version of the cover, as former Michigan star Denard Robinson is also confirmed to be on a "legends" edition cover. Advertisement As for Lagway's injury status, he is reportedly healthy and ready to go. The Gators will open the season on Aug. 30 against LIU. Related: 10 Current College Football Stars That Could Make 2028 LA Olympics in Flag Football
