Fall camp is right around the corner which means Gator Country will begin their 2025 season previews.
Florida’s quarterback room
There’s little controversy in Florida’s quarterback room for the foreseeable future. Sophomore DJ Lagway will take the reins for the next 2-3 years as the Gators look to make the college football playoffs for the first time. Florida didn’t have much stability in the quarterback room last year after both Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway suffered injuries throughout the 2024 campaign, resulting in three quarterbacks playing 125+ snaps. Like any season, it will be imperative that Florida’s starter stays healthy in 2025.
Projected starter: DJ Lagway
One of the main reasons for optimism entering Billy Napier’s fourth year as head coach is DJ Lagway. The former No.1 quarterback in the 2024 class found significant playing time during his freshman campaign, tossing for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. While those stats don’t jump out of the screen, Lagway led Florida to a 6-0 record in games he started and finished. The Willis, Texas native created enough explosive plays to lead the Gators to victory behind a much-improved defense, completing 52.8% of his deep passes last season, which was an average of 31.2 yards down the field. Lagway’s arm strength and unheard of accuracy on deep passes makes him a scoring threat every time he drops back.
You won’t find many quarterbacks in the country with the skillset of Lagway, but there are areas he needs to improve on if he wants to make the jump Gator Nation is expecting. Lagway struggled with intermediate passing routes, completing just 46.6% of his passes between 10-19 yards while tossing seven interceptions. It was clear that Lagway was struggling progressing through reads which often times led to ill-advised throws into double coverage or failing to see the linebacker in the middle of the field. This isn’t all that uncommon for a true freshman quarterback in the SEC, so the hope is that he’ll improve on his decision making in his sophomore season.
Lagway did not throw in spring camp due to a shoulder injury, but according to head coach Billy Napier, Lagway was throwing three times a week throughout the month of May and will be 100% by OTA’s ahead of fall camp. As I noted earlier, Lagway’s health is imperative to Florida’s 2025 season.
It feels like Florida won’t ever be out of a game with Lagway under center given his arm strength and dual threat play making abilities.
Projected backup: Harrison Bailey
I’m predicting Harrison Bailey to serve as Florida’s backup quarterback in 2025, although Aidan Warner could compete for the role throughout fall camp or during the season. The Louisville transfer committed to Florida knowing the starting job would go to Lagway, which is encouraging from an attitude and work ethic standpoint.
Bailey has played for Tennessee, UNLV, and Louisville across five seasons in college football, completing 108 of 171 passes (63.1%) for 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing three interceptions in his career. The 6’5, 230-pound quarterback is coming off a start with Louisville in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, where he was named MVP for throwing three touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
The Marietta, Georgia native certainly looked the part of a backup quarterback during Florida’s Orange and Blue spring game, completing 29 of 43 pass attempts (67%) for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Projected third string: Aidan Warner
Former preferred walk on quarterback Aidan Warner has been placed on scholarship after tossing for 228 yards and three interceptions while logging one rushing touchdown last season. Warner got his name called after Lagway went down with an injury vs Georgia and even started the following week vs Texas. The flurry of injuries placed Warner in a spot he wasn’t prepared for as he had just recently began taking reps during the season.
During Florida’s Orange and Blue Spring game, Warner completed 10 of 23 passes (43.4%) for 157 yards and two touchdowns vs the Gators’ first team defense. Warner took a noticeable jump in spring camp and looked to be in much better control of the offense; however, I predict he’ll start the 2025 season as Florida’s third spring quarterback once again.
Other: Tramell Jones and Clay Millen
Florida returned Clay Millen and welcomed freshman quarterback Tramell Jones to Gainesville in the offseason. Millen transferred from Colorado State to Florida before the 2024 season but ultimately lost the third spring QB battle to Aidan Warner. Jones will likely undergo a redshirt season as he’s still not 100% healthy from an undisclosed leg injury suffered in his senior year at Mandarin High School. Napier said after spring camp that Jones is 90% healthy. In two possessions during Florida’s spring game, Jones completed 2 of 3 passes for 30 yards including a long of 24.