Billy Napier blasts DJ Lagway opt-out rumors: 'That's a total myth'

Amid Florida‘s troubling 1-3 start to the 2025 season, the hot seat speculation about fourth-year head coach Billy Napier‘s future with the program has ramped up to 10 once again. But with the college football season entering a pivotal Week 5, rumors have circulated online involving the future of sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway.

More specifically, the rumors suggest the Gators’ superstar QB could opt-out of the remainder of the 2025 season in order to qualify for a redshirt before entering the NCAA Transfer Portal and ultimately moving on from Florida. NCAA rules permit college football players to play in no more than four games in order to qualify for a redshirt season. And Lagway has started each of Florida’s first four games this season, meaning his next game would disqualify the former No. 1 overall recruit from redshirting in 2025.

For his part, Napier shot down any suggestion Lagway was even considering such an option during his weekly appearance on the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday.

“It’s comical,” Napier said of the speculation on Wednesday. “The kid has been back in here since Sunday working his butt off. Monday, yesterday, had really good days. We can’t control that outside narrative, obviously, but he’s just fine. He’s been in the building just like he’s on the staff. So he’s been back to work. Yeah, that’s a total myth that’s out there.”

The Lagway transfer “myth” as Napier called it seemed to stem from mere speculation, including from longtime Gainesville-area radio show host Buddy Martin, who described hearing about “the uneasiness and unhappiness of DJ Lagway’s dad” during Week 4’s 26-7 loss at No. 4 Miami. Martin then reminded his followers that Lagway has the option to “sit out (Oct. 4’s game vs.) Texas, take a redshirt and still have three eligible seasons on a transfer.” The Gators are on a bye this weekend ahead of its return to SEC play with next week’s home game against the 10th-ranked Longhorns (3-1).

Billy Napier confirms DJ Lagway in walking boot during bye week

Lagaway has been spotted wearing a walking boot around the Florida facility this week, though that appears to be more of a precautionary measure during the bye week, according to Napier.

“DJ is fine,” Napier said of Lagway on Wednesday’s teleconference. “He got stepped on during the game. We put a boot on him. No issue at all. He practiced yesterday. He’s 100 percent.”

This is just the latest injury concern for Lagway. As a true freshman in 2024, he lost time last season while being banged up. Then, over the offseason, he dealt with a shoulder issue in the Spring before being seen in a walking boot during Fall camp. Those injuries forced him to miss valuable practice time this offseason, but it hasn’t cost him any games to this point in 2025.

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.