For DJ Lagway and the Florida Gators, this season was meant to reignite their SEC relevance. Instead, a 1–3 start has left Gainesville grasping for answers, and Lagway caught in the crossfire. The former five-star phenom isn’t the root of all Florida’s woes, but his nagging shoulder injury has stalled his effectiveness.
Whispers around the program have become full-throated advice: Lagway should redshirt, reset, and regroup. But not everyone agrees. Vince Young, who knows something about quarterbacking through adversity, urges Lagway to stay the course.
Vince Young Challenges DJ Lagway to Play Through
Lagway’s 2025 campaign began with promise. He looked sharp in Florida’s blowout win over Long Island and held his own in what was initially seen as a surprising loss to USF.
But things quickly unraveled. Against LSU, Lagway threw for 289 yards but also committed five interceptions, with six of his passes deemed turnover-worthy. The Gators lost 20–10, and Lagway’s decision-making was scrutinized.
His performance against Miami was even more subdued. Lagway completed just 61 yards on 23 attempts. While he avoided interceptions or turnover-worthy throws, the lack of production was glaring.
Heading into the bye week, HC Billy Napier responded with urgency. He gave Lagway intense game-like reps to help him reset. Still, the calls for a redshirt grew louder. Some analysts suggested Lagway should sit out the rest of the season, recover fully, and wait for a better opportunity.
But on a recent episode of The Stampede, Young offered a strong counterpoint. He urged Lagway not to consider redshirting and to fight through the adversity.
“Even though you’re going through this adversity, just like I did, Coach McCoy, a lot of quarterbacks have been in this position. But what shows your true colors is how you fight out of it,” Young said.
He continued, “And to hear that people are calling DJ, asking him to redshirt, that is unacceptable. Because now you’re telling the NFL teams: if I’m not playing well, if I’m not doing good, I don’t want to be here anymore.”
DJ Lagway’s Body Has been in a Battle
Lagway’s physical setbacks began well before his first college snap. 247Sports Composite ranked him the No. 3 overall prospect and the top quarterback in the 2024 class.
The Willis standout arrived at Florida nursing a shoulder injury sustained during high school baseball. That injury forced him into a lengthy rehab throughout the offseason.
A hamstring issue kept him out of last November’s matchup against Texas, and the list of ailments didn’t stop there. Lagway underwent surgery for a core muscle injury, dealt with groin discomfort, and strained his calf during preseason camp.
He could not throw during spring practice, severely limiting his ability to implement mechanical changes.
While opinions vary on the extent to which these injuries have affected his play, the numbers suggest a clear impact. Lagway’s completion rate dipped below 60 percent, and he threw 12 touchdowns against nine interceptions, an alarming 4.7 percent interception rate.
READ MORE: College Football Week 6: Who are the 20 Teams Still Undefeated Ahead of Crucial Weekend?
Regardless of health, his performance against LSU revealed deeper issues. Analysts noted that four of his five interceptions came on third down, despite consistently clean pockets.
Poor timing and footwork led to the first pick. The second was caused by bad eye discipline and mechanics. The third came from forcing a throw into double coverage after failing to progress through reads. The fourth was a reckless decision to throw into triple coverage instead of settling for a field goal. The fifth was a pressured throw across his body.
These breakdowns painted a picture of a quarterback whose struggles were compounded by lapses in technique and fundamentals.
Napier needs Lagway to mature quickly, sharpen his footwork, improve his eye discipline, and manage games with more poise. The head coach’s future may depend on it. Still, everyone hopes Lagway’s raw talent and magnetic personality could erupt on Saturday in Gainesville.
