DJ Lagway was a surprise standout as a freshman in Gainesville. From teammates to the community, he turned heads everywhere with his performance. Now, one of the Gators’ biggest names, Anthony Richardson, has shared his endorsement of Lagway.
The former Florida quarterback believes the 19-year-old has everything it takes to lead Florida back into the national spotlight from his position. The Gainesville product made his stance clear with conviction.
Anthony Richardson Endorses DJ Lagway to Lead Florida to National Spotlight
Richardson recently returned to his hometown to host multiple impactful events, including literacy promotion through his “Read Like a Gator” initiative and a free football camp for kids aged 6 to 16. His mother was also present at the event, leading a parents’ summit aimed at educating families on how to support their children’s athletic dreams.
Reports claimed that the camp saw a large turnout, drawing hundreds of young athletes and supporters to Citizens Field in Gainesville. While attending the community event, Richardson also took time to speak with Swamp247 and shared his thoughts on the Gators’ rising sophomore quarterback.
Lagway was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 class. He stepped in as a replacement for starter Graham Mertz, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
Though he made his mark as a true freshman, his performance didn’t look like that of a typical first-year player. He finished the season with 1,915 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in just seven starts for the Gators.
Richardson, now with the Indianapolis Colts, didn’t hold back his praise. “He’s a great player. I like watching him ball. I was watching him ball when he was in high school, so just watching him play and do his thing, it’s amazing,” he said.
But the real surprise came when Richardson shared his bold prediction for the Gators’ 2025 campaign. “I’m actually looking forward to them running the playoffs this year,” he said, signaling that Florida could return to national prominence.
Caught up with Anthony Richardson after his multiple community events in Gainesville this weekend. Naturally, DJ Lagway and the #Gators‘ upcoming season came up.
“I’m actually looking forward to them running the playoffs this year.”@Swamp_247:https://t.co/duI6zLWvY9
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) June 22, 2025
Richardson also highlighted Lagway’s maturity and leadership. “He doesn’t act his age at all. You know, he’s a phenomenal leader and I’ve never seen him really get too high or too low on himself. He’s always trying to work,” he added.
Now let’s talk about expectations. Obviously, a championship is the ultimate goal for any team, and that’s no different for the Gators. But logically, the College Football Playoff is the first focus right now.
They ended the 2024 season on a four-game win streak, which was a strong finish that deserves praise. Moreover, with head coach Billy Napier entering his fourth year, expectations are higher than ever because Lagway is now their starting quarterback.
Fans are hopeful that the Gators can finally break their College Football Playoff drought with him leading the way. The Gators have not reached the national title game since 2008. However, Richardson’s support for the young quarterback could be an indicator that something promising may be on the way.
