Four Gators were selected to participate in the Under Armour All-America Game on January 3rd in Orlando, Florida, including Florida’s prized signee DJ Lagway. Gator Country spent the week watching the 6’2, 225-pound quarterback as he participated in four practices with Team Fire leading up to Wednesday’s game at 4:00 PM EST.
Following the conclusion of the fourth and final practice, GC caught up with Team Fire’s QB coach Tyler Schneider, who serves as the offensive coordinator and QB coach for Bixby High School, who has now won back-to-back state championships in the Oklahoma 6A classification. Schneider just completed his 13th season with the Bixby Spartans, nine of which resulted in a State Championship.
“Whenever I got the opportunity to do this I obviously went to look up all the guys I was going to get to coach, and it was apparent right away that’s he’s a really good football player,” Schneider said on Lagway’s talent.
After watching him for four days, it was difficult for Schneider to find a weakness in Lagway’s game.
“Getting to watch him in practice, coaches standing on the sidelines, we’ve commented a couple times, ‘man, he’s good at everything, that guy does everything well’,” Schneider said on Lagway. “He can pull it down on the zone read and run it, he can run QB iso, he can throw the four verts stuff, he throws the quick game really good, he gets the ball out. I haven’t seen anything he doesn’t do well to be completely honest.”
One area that impressed coach Schneider was Lagway’s ability to pick up the playbook in a timely manner, which allowed the five-star QB to settle into the offensive system and make plays using his legs.
“As far as mastering the playbook, and it’s a condensed playbook obviously but, going from learning the plays on day one to now where he’s able to know the plays well enough to make those extra special plays, throw it to the guy that maybe is not the main primary target or when he has to break contain, break the pocket, he knows where everyone is at on the field. And that’s pretty impressive to me in three days to understand what we are doing offensively well enough to be able to get to that level,” Schneider said on Lagway’s progression throughout the week.
Coach Schneider could have gone on and on about Lagway’s skillset and on field performance, but what caught the attention of the experienced high school and collegiate coach was who Lagway is off the field.
“As good of a football player as he is, he might be a better person. Great guy to sit and talk to,” Schneider said on what he’s seen from Lagway this week. “He’s an adult, he can sit and talk and have a conversation. In the meetings he asks good questions, he knows what’s going on, he’s always early.”
At the end of the final practice, a water ballon fight broke out with the primary target being DJ Lagway.
“I think he’s been awesome with these guys,” Schneider said on Lagway’s leadership ability. “If you noticed as soon as this little water ballon deal broke out, everybody was going after him, and I think that’s a compliment. The guys know who he is, they know he’s a good sport, they know they can banter back and forth with him like that. I think he’s been a great teammate.”
“Our other quarterbacks are great leaders too, and I think they kind of look to him, where he’s at, what he’s doing too,” Schneider added. “His leadership stuff I think is really really good.”
DJ Lagway will look to lead Team Fire to victory over Team Ice on Wednesday night at 4:00 PM EST in Orlando, Florida. The game will air on ESPN.