“DJ Lagway, DJ Lagway, DJ Lagway,” chants were heard loud and clear at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium throughout Florida’s dominant 45-7 win over Samford in week two.
“I was chanting with them,” sophomore receiver Eugene Wilson said postgame.
True freshman quarterback DJ Lagway was the talk of the town this week in Gainesville. The former No.1 QB in the 2023 class made his first collegiate start on Saturday night vs Samford and passed with flying colors.
Lagway completed 18 of 25 passes for 456 yards and three touchdowns, recording the most single game passing yards by a Gators freshman quarterback in program history, shattering Chris Leak’s record of 268 yards vs. Kentucky.
“I was just locked into the task at hand,” Lagway said postgame. “My coach is telling me one play at a time. That’s what it is, just executing one play at a time. Just getting my guys involved, just getting everybody involved with the ball, that’s the biggest thing.”
The 6’3, 239-pound Willis, Texas native recorded six passing plays of 30+ yards, displaying soft touch and accuracy on nearly every deep ball. Lagway converted on 6 of 9 passes that traveled 15 yards through the air on Saturday night.
On Florida’s second drive of the game, Lagway showed off his arm strength with a strike to Elijhah Badger for a 77-yard gain, a pass that traveled over 50 yards in the air. The 77-yard pass marked the longest Gators passing play since Anthony Richardson in 2021, when he connected with Xzaiver Henderson on a 78-yard TD vs Georgia.
“It’s almost like he said I’m throwing that double move on the outside,” Billy Napier said on Lagway’s 77-yard completion to Badger. “So he set his feet, first two guys in the progression were open, and he threw it down there to Badger. That was impressive.”
It might not have even been the most impressive throw of the night, however. Late in the third quarter, Lagway found the pocket collapsing before he stepped up and delivered a perfect pass to a tightly covered Aidan Mizell, who came away with the 41-yard touchdown pass.
To say my jaw hit the floor is an understatement. The ability to sense pressure, recognize there’s no safety help, and step up in the pocket before delivering a perfect pass is NFL level stuff from a true freshman making his first career start.
“On that play, just trust my receiver,” Lagway said. “My man is better than their man. That’s the biggest thing. We’d been working since January, so I have trust in Aidan among all my other receivers.”
Neither the in-stride bomb to Badger or the jaw-dropping 41-yard pass to Mizell were the most memorable for Lagway, however. The play that stood out to Lagway was his first career touchdown pass, a 36 yard throw to one of his best friends, freshman WR Tank Hawkins.
“I would say the one to Tank Hawkins,” Lagway said on which throw stood out. “That’s one of my best friends here. So it was a real moment to get our first touchdown together. That was pretty cool.”
Lagway’s 456 passing yards are the most in the FBS this season and rank ninth all-time at Florida (most since Emory Jones threw for 464 yards vs. Samford on Nov. 13, 2021). Lagway was 27 yards shy from setting Florida’s single-game passing record.
“What I learned about myself is really just that I can adapt to anything,” Lagway said postgame. “Just be ready for any opportunity that comes my way. I’ve never been put in a situation like this before, like where things could just flip like this, but it’s a blessing.”
Lagway’s performance was a breath of fresh air for Gator fans, who can’t wait to see him on the gridiron again. While it’s unclear whether Lagway will be named Florida’s starting quarterback moving forward, Billy Napier suggested he will be part of their plans each and every week.
“He brings a different element to our team. There’s no question he’ll be a part of every plan going forward,” Napier said postgame.
Florida’s offense combined for 632 yards of total offense, eclipsing 600 yards for the first time since Oct. 2, 2022 vs. Eastern Washington (666).
The Gators improve to 1-1 ahead of a critical week three matchup against Texas A&M.