Derek "DJ" Lagway (born August 13, 2005) is an American football quarterback for the Florida Gators.

DJ Lagway
Lagway after the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl
Florida Gators – No. 2
PositionQuarterback
ClassFreshman
Personal information
Born: (2005-08-13) August 13, 2005 (age 19)
Willis, Texas, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolWillis (Willis, Texas)
Career highlights and awards

Early life

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Lagway attended Willis High School in Willis, Texas.[2][3] As a junior in 2022, he passed for 2,081 yards with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions.[4] Prior to his senior season in 2023, Lagway participated in the Elite 11.[5] As a senior, he passed for 4,631 yards with a Texas Class 6A record 58 touchdown passes, and added 975 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns.[6][7] He was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year[8] and Mr. Texas Football.[9] For his career, Lagway had 8,392 passing yards and 100 passing touchdowns with 2,196 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns.[10]

A five-star recruit, Lagway committed to the University of Florida to play college football.[11][12][13]

College career

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Lagway entered his true freshman season with the Florida Gators in 2024 as the backup to Graham Mertz.[14] After Mertz was placed in concussion protocol following the season opener against Miami, Lagway was named the starting quarterback against Samford.[15] Mertz suffered a season-ending injury against Tennessee and Lagway was inserted as the team's starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.[16] In his seven starts, he helped lead Florida to a 6–1 record and bowl eligibility.[17]

Statistics

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Season Team Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2024 Florida 12 7 6–1 115 192 59.9 1,915 10.0 12 9 154.9 51 101 2.0 0
Career 12 7 6–1 115 192 59.9 1,915 10.0 12 9 154.9 51 101 2.0 0

Personal life

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He is the son of Derek and Nikita Nephew Lagway. His father, Derek Lagway, played college football at Baylor University.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Smajovits, Harrison (December 20, 2024). "Gators QB DJ Lagway Takes Home Gasparilla Bowl MVP". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  2. ^ Montaño, Alvaro (September 21, 2023). "DJ Lagway, Willis finding a groove early in season". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Shugan, Zach (July 22, 2024). "DJ Lagway, Florida Gators 5-star quarterback commit, continues dominant senior year". Capital Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Taylor, G. Allan (December 8, 2022). "Taylor: Gators' addition of 5-star quarterback DJ Lagway signals better days ahead". The Athletic. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Silva II, Dennis (June 12, 2023). "Willis' Lagway excited for Elite 11 finals". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Thompson, Edgar (December 20, 2023). "QB DJ Lagway checks all boxes for Gators coach Billy Napier". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Silva II, Dennis (November 24, 2023). "Willis QB D.J. Lagway nears state TD passing record". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Poorman, Jon (December 19, 2023). "Willis QB D.J. Lagway named MaxPreps National Player of the Year". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "No. 1 QB DJ Lagway Signs with Florida: 'I'm Even More a Gator'". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. December 25, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Tate, Rob (December 20, 2023). "Unswayed by late overtures, Willis' D.J. Lagway signs with Florida". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Baumgartner, Blake (December 7, 2022). "Lagway, top-dual threat QB for '24, picks Gators". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Kercheval, Ben (December 7, 2022). "Florida football recruiting: DJ Lagway, four-star QB prospect in 2024 class, commits to Gators". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Wasserman, Ari (February 7, 2023). "Why 5-star QB DJ Lagway is the perfect recruit at the perfect time for Florida". The Athletic. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Dubbin, Adam (August 26, 2024). "ESPN predicts DJ Lagway's role with Florida during his freshman year". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Adelson, Andrea (September 4, 2024). "With Mertz out, UF to start freshman QB Lagway". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Smajovits, Harrison (October 14, 2024). "DJ Lagway Starting QB Going Forward for Florida Gators". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "DJ Lagway 2024 Stats per Game - NCAAF". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  18. ^ Davenport, Richard (March 13, 2022). "Elite QB has 'amazing' Arkansas visit". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
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