Billy Napier’s grip on the Florida Gators’ future just got a lot more fragile. As the season approaches, one name keeps creeping up—DJ Lagway. After a rough year, the Gators have pinned their hopes on the young QB, but ghost of past season is back to haunt them. DJ Lagway’s health. A major factor in Florida’s chances this year, his status is as uncertain as ever. With so much on the line, can he stay in one piece, or will this problem derail everything?
And that’s exactly what On3’s J.D. PicKell is highlighting. Look, after Graham Mertz’s season-ending injury, DJ Lagway took charge of Florida’s offense, and he is the reason behind the Gators’ 8-4 run and a bowl appearance. Now, PicKell has one good and one concerning news for the team: the good one is that he has the Gators at no. 10 in his post-spring top 25 ranking, and the bad one is that if Lagway’s not returning well after his rehab, dark clouds might loom over Billy Napier and the team. “I think DJ Lagway should he be healthy—which has been a hot topic around this office, should he be healthy? I think Florida is one of those top 15 teams in college football. I really do.”
But why is DJ Lagway’s presence so important for the team? Look, Florida’s 2025 expectations just soared thanks to DJ Lagway’s arm. Ranked the top returning deep-ball passer by 247Sports and Pro Football Focus, Lagway enters the fall with a powerful arm and high expectations. 247Sports’ Grant Hughes highlighted his unmatched blend of arm strength, accuracy, and efficiency on throws over 20 yards among returning Power Five quarterbacks.
Well, stats don’t lie. Lagway didn’t need a huge sample size to showcase his talent. In 2024, he completed 19 of 36 deep throws for 733 yards, five touchdowns, and only two interceptions. That’s a 52.8% adjusted completion rate and a remarkable 31.2-yard average depth of target (ADOT). A healthy Lagway is a threat to lead the SEC in every deep passing category next fall. And also for Florida’s future, as not just PicKell but Andy Staples also believes the same, “If there are further problems, if there’s something that requires surgical intervention, then you just take Florida out of there. Take it off the board; it’s not even happening.”
But apart from Lagway, Florida’s already making a big splash in terms of their returning production this season. Players like Jake Slaughter, Austin Barber, Ja’Kobi Jackson, Hayden Hansen, and Tyreak Sapp. And that’s what makes them a top team this season. “On top of that, you have top 20 returning production that not only has some experience but has some battle scars. Dude, I love that about Florida. I love the fact that this is a group that’s not just physically experienced but has some mental experience.” PicKell said. “They get beat by Miami the first week of the season, get the brakes beat off of them with Cam Ward doing the celebration and all that, and then just turn around. Nobody gave up. Nobody quit on the team. Found a way to finish the way they finished.” But behind all the glory is Billy Napier hiding anything?
Billy Napier’s faith on DJ Lagway’s game play
Billy Napier’s all-in on DJ Lagway, betting heavily that his shoulder can withstand a grueling SEC season. Despite red flags—Lagway’s injury history and limited spring practice—Napier remained unfazed. He added Harrison Bailey, but the Louisville transfer hardly qualifies as a reliable backup. Bailey threw for a meager 227 yards last year and was largely invisible in 2023. His 6’5″ frame is impressive, but height won’t win games in Gainesville.
Napier, however, appears unconcerned. “Our intentions here are to be very smart,” he said during spring practice. “I do think he’ll be limited in throwing activities, but he’ll participate in all practices otherwise. We’ve done a lot of homework with the things he went through as a player, but he was an absolute warrior and a great competitor who showed toughness.” His statement showed more faith than caution; he clearly trusts Lagway’s toughness more than he fears another injury.
DJ lagway’s mettle last season speaks volumes. How? This guy only dropped back to pass 225 times—far fewer than any other SEC quarterback among the top deep-ball passers. Despite ranking just 16th in the SEC in total dropbacks (225), he ranked 7th in deep passing yards (733). This is a significant difference, as his 225 dropbacks were 146 fewer than the next-lowest total among the top six quarterbacks (Milroe, 371). He excelled on deep throws to the center of the field, completing 10 of 16 passes (62.5%) for 380 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. So, now you can understand why Florida’s future relies heavily on Lagway’s return?
But Napier expects him to get back in full swing. “DJ’s doing great,” Napier said. “He’ll start throwing here in a couple weeks. We will start OTAs in June; he’ll be 100%. Everything is on schedule.” But what if that’s not the case? However, this is a huge risk. If Lagway falters, the Gators lack a reliable backup. Bailey’s experience is minimal. Napier is betting on talent and grit over depth and security. If Napier’s gamble pays off, Florida is all set to chase the championship. But if his shoulder gives out again, expect serious questions about the Florida coaching staff.
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