Billy Gonzales addresses DJ Lagway benching, if he's still Florida's starting QB

Florida’s quarterback situation remains one of the most discussed topics in the SEC this week. After DJ Lagway threw three interceptions and was benched at halftime of the Gators’ loss to Kentucky, interim head coach Billy Gonzales addressed the move and the plan going forward.

Gonzales was quick to shoulder the responsibility for the decision, emphasizing that it was about helping his young quarterback, not punishing him: “That was my decision to take him out of the game at that point,” Gonzales said.

“We were struggling. He was having a tough time, but it’s not all on him, and I told him that. As a coach, it’s our responsibility. If someone’s struggling, help them out or take them out so they’re not put in that position to have to keep fighting through it.”

To help Lagway understand his reasoning, Gonzales offered an analogy from a different sport: “I told him, ‘I know we’re not Major League Baseball, but you’ve got an amazing amount of talent. You’re a great quarterback. But just like in baseball, if a pitcher’s struggling, what do you do? You get the next guy in. It doesn’t mean he’s not a great pitcher. it just means it wasn’t his day,’” Gonzales explained.

“I wanted to bring him out. Let him refocus, gather himself, and hopefully turn it into a learning experience that’s going to make him better this week as we prepare for Ole Miss.”

The Gators turned to freshman Tramell Jones in the second half, but the offense continued to stall. Gonzales said Lagway will take the first-team reps in practice this week and made clear his faith in the young quarterback hasn’t wavered.

“I told him, ‘Relax. The weight of the world isn’t on you. That’s on us as a staff, to make sure we alleviate that so you can play fast and play with confidence,’” Gonzales proclaimed.

Additionally, Gonzales also pushed back on Lagway taking full responsibility for the offense’s struggles: “I told him, ‘It doesn’t all begin with you. It begins with us, the coaching staff, putting you in the right position,’” he said. “DJ’s a great player, and what makes him special is that he extends plays and makes things happen. I don’t want him to lose that edge by overthinking.”

Alas, Florida now turns the page toward a crucial SEC matchup against Ole Miss this weekend. Gonzales has made it clear that competition will remain part of the equation moving forward though, even at quarterback: “Competition is great for everybody,” he pointed out.