From Willis to The Swamp, DJ Lagway Stays True to Gators
Just a three-hour drive from the University of Texas at Austin lies the small town of Willis, where DJ Lagway was born and raised. His family roots in the town are deep, dating back more than two generations.
Lagway’s talents were refined on the fields of Willis High School, where he first gained attention as a promising quarterback. Lagway is Texan through and through.
But his roots don’t match his favorite team — Lagway has always bled orange and blue.
Born into a Gator household, the quarterback grew up on stories about Florida Football. He became inspired by the glory days of National Championship wins and modeled the success of Gator legends such as Tim Tebow. That connection to the program played a major role in his decision to commit to Florida in 2023.
On Saturday, much responsibility lies on Lagway’s shoulders. Florida faces No. 9 Texas in the first SEC match up of the year in The Swamp. For the first time in his collegiate career, Lagway clashes against his home-state Longhorns representing the Gators.
Loading ...Florida enters the game after much struggle, carrying three straight losses this season, a record worst since 1986. They rank 100th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging just 22 points per game, and sit at 108th in total offense.
As quarterback, Lagway has been a focal point for criticism this season.
He has completed 67% of his passes for 690 yards, and carries a touchdown-to-interception ratio of five-to-six. However, the sophomore quarterback remains optimistic about the rest of the Gators’ season.
“It’s been hard, but let me tell y’all something, we’re going to get things changed … We’ve got to play better football, and it starts with me,” Lagway told ESPN following the 26-7 loss to No.3 Miami.
Gators coach Billy Napier has been vocal about the need for improvement across the board, emphasizing execution and consistency. Whether Florida can translate preparation into performance will be evident this weekend.
Category: Gators Football
