True freshman quarterback DJ Lagway has played a critical role in turning around Florida’s 2024 season, and potentially the program. The Gators are 5-0 when Lagway starts and finishes the game at quarterback, including wins against No.22 LSU, No.9 Ole Miss, and in state rival Florida State. The Gators have logged their first winning season under Billy Napier, snapping a three-year drought dating back to Dan Mullen’s last season in 2021.
But it’s not just the highlight throws and superman plays from Lagway that make people excited for the future, it’s also what he’s doing off the field. High school recruits from all different positions have raved about the opportunity to play for the former No.1 QB in the country. With the regular season over, Lagway will be involved with bringing in transfer portal guys and helping close on the 2025 high school class.
“I’m definitely going to be involved in the transfer portal and the recruiting class,” Lagway said after the FSU game.
Billy Napier has always been a good recruiter; he pulled in the No.1 IOL, No.1 QB, and No.1 DL in the 2024 class after back-to-back losing seasons. If that doesn’t show you what he’s capable of, I don’t know what will. After recruiting struggles during the season, Napier and the Gators have picked it up, landing 11 commitments in the last 21 days with more on the way. This is a product of winning games on the football field and having a young DJ Lagway on the roster.
One position group Lagway will be heavily involved with is wide receivers. The Gators lose Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger due to eligibility and will need to search the transfer portal to replace them.
“You’re going to get the ball,” Lagway said on his message to transfer wide receivers. “We’re going to push the ball down the field, make some big plays and you’re going to have fun doing it.”
It doesn’t get talked about as much, but roster retention can be just as important as high school or transfer portal recruiting. You often times have to ‘re-recruit’ guys that have already signed and played for you; it’s just the nature of today’s game. Lagway is focused on keeping Florida’s roster intact.
“The biggest thing is keeping the guys that we have here. That’s the biggest thing,” Lagway said on recruiting. “Just making sure that everyone’s locked in and we can add and build on this momentum we have at the end of the season.”
It seems as if Florida’s roster can feel the program turning for the better, and they want to be a part of it.
“A lot of guys who could possibly get out and leave this year that are actually thinking about coming back and making a run. And that means a lot,” Lagway said. “You’ve gotta have guys around you. You see this game. I didn’t play my best game, but we have guys like Montrell Johnson running the ball making plays. Defense making heck of plays and getting us off the field. You’ve gotta have the guys around you.”
Three of Florida’s five starting offensive lineman are redshirt juniors with one year of edibility remaining.
“I’m taking a couple out to dinner,” Lagway said on his offensive line.
One name he mentioned specifically: center Jake Slaughter.
The early portion of signing day opens up on Wednesday, December 4th while the transfer portal opens on December 9th. Florida looks to finish strong on the recruiting trail after a positive end to their 2024 season.