Latest news with #Lagway
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Which SEC teams still have a QB competition after spring camp?
Which SEC teams still have a QB competition after spring camp? Spring camp is the audition, and fall camp is the callback. Players transfer out after dropping down the depth chart in the spring, and the ones who impressed get the summer to work out before securing their spot in the fall. It's especially true with players at premium positions, such as quarterback. One of the worst situations for an SEC team to be in is not knowing who their starter is heading into the summer, and it's pretty easy to gauge the upcoming class of signal callers within the conference by the end of the spring. USA TODAY Sports national college football columnist Blake Toppmeyer recently broke down the starting quarterback competitions across the SEC and grouped teams into one of three categories: "We know the starting quarterback," "Door remains cracked in quarterback competition," and "Door fully open in quarterback competition." Unsurprisingly, Florida falls into the first category with DJ Lagway as the clear starter on the roster. "The Gators won four straight games to finish last season while Lagway started as a true freshman. He's a top-tier SEC quarterback," said Toppmeyer. Which teams are still figuring it out at QB? Lagway is one of 13 presumed starters on Toppmeyer's list, and the three schools that still have some uncertainty at quarterback aren't who most would expect. It's not the Vanderbilts of the conference. It's Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are in the "door remains cracked" group, while Tennessee is still standing still with its pants down after losing starter Nico Iamleava to UCLA in the transfer portal. Ty Simpson and Gunner Stockton appear like the heir apparents at Alabama and Georgia, respectively, but the former has five-star freshman Keelon Russell to consider. The rest of the class Lagway's anointment as the leader of Florida's offense came a year earlier than expected when Graham Mertz went down with a season-ending ACL tear; however, he showed flashes early in a record-breaking start against FCS Samford. The rest of.. There are other returning starters: Arkansas' Taylor Green enters his second year with the program after transferring from Boise State; LSU has Garrett Nussmeier back for another season; Blake Shapen returns from injury for Mississippi State; LaNorris Sellers enjoyed a breakout year for South Carolina and is one of the top quarterbacks in the conference; Marcel Reed forced Conner Weigman out at Texas A&M while taking over the starting role; and Diego Pavia has another year of eligibility at Vanderbilt. There are the transfers: Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has outright named Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold the starter already; Kentucky brought Zach Calzada, formerly of Texas A&M, back to the SEC after most recently playing for FCS Incarnate World; Missouri added Beau Pribula from Penn State; and Oklahoma replaced Arnold with Washington's John Mateer, who might be among the best in the country this season. Finally, there are the two first-time starters stepping up in the program: Texas' Arch Manning and Ole Miss' Austin Simmons. Manning has the surname to live up to but is already considered a Heisman contender despite not playing a ton in his first two seasons. Simmons is a one-time Florida commit who got playing time as a back to Jaxson Dart last year. Lane Kiffin is high on him and he should get every chance to start. 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
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does Florida football's quarterback room rank in ESPN's 2025 FBS tiers?
Where does Florida football's quarterback room rank in ESPN's 2025 FBS tiers? The quarterback has historically been the keystone position in the sport of football and that fact still rings true in 2025. Championships are often won on the shoulders of the best signal-callers, especially at the college level. Looking ahead to next fall's campaign, ESPN reporter David Hale took a moment to rank all 136 FBS quarterback situations into tiers now that the dust has settled from the spring practice season. The full list comprises 20 total tiers that are also broken down into subdivisions based on his "Magic Eight Ball" predictions. The Florida Gators earned a spot in the top tier, second division entitled, "So hot right now," based on starter DJ Lagway and backup Harrison Bailey's presence under center. The category also included Texas Longhorns gunslingers Arch Manning and Matthew Caldwell, as well as Miami Hurricanes passers Carson Beck and Emory Williams. "The conversation around Manning and Lagway is two former five-star recruits who appear on the verge of breakout performances," Hale notes. "Their ceilings are ridiculously high, but their actual on-field production so far leaves plenty of room for questions." DJ Lagway's 2024 stats The 6-foot-3-inch, 239-pound signal caller out of Willis, Texas, appeared in 12 of Florida's 13 games last season while logging seven starts. The Gators won six of those games he opened up under center, with the lone loss coming against the Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville — a game he was knocked out of with a lower-body injury after rallying his team in the first half. Lagway completed 59.9% of his passes for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns against nine interceptions last fall. He also amassed a multitude of accolades, including a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-American Team, as well as ESPN Freshman All-American, 247Sports True Freshman All-American, On3 True Freshman All-American, PFF True Freshman All-American, CFN Freshman Quarterback of the Year and All-American, plus the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl MVP award. 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.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football QB DJ Lagway is CBS Sports' top Heisman candidate for the Gators in 2025
Florida football QB DJ Lagway is CBS Sports' top Heisman candidate for the Gators in 2025 The Heisman Trophy — an honor bestowed upon the perceived best player in college football each season — is one of the most storied awards in all of sports. It has been a long time since the Florida Gators have had a Heisman-winning player — 18 years in fact. Since Tim Tebow won the third trophy in UF history back in 2007, there have not been many challengers for the Orange and Blue when it comes to the preeminent accolade in collegiate athletics. That could all change this coming fall, if quarterback DJ Lagway can live up to his lofty expectations. While the sophomore signal-caller is just getting over a pair of lingering injury issues, CBS Sports Shehan Jeyarajah still foresees the Gators' gunslinger as the top Heisman contender in the Swamp. "Lagway was 247Sports' No. 1 quarterback in the nation coming out of high school and he backed up that billing with some incredible flashes as a freshman. He threw six touchdowns during a four-game winning streak to end the year that included upsets over Ole Miss and LSU," Jeyarajah states. "With another offseason of growth, Lagway should take his rightful place among the best in the country." 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.
