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Billy Napier: DJ Lagway is only going to get better

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko10/20/24nickkosko59
USATSI_24541836 (1)
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Billy Napier is confident in freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, despite the Florida QB’s less than stellar performance in a win.

Lagway made some throws here and there, but it was the Jadan Baugh show in the Gators’ 48-20 win over Kentucky to improve to 4-3 on the season. Lagway, who was a five-star prospect as a recruit, is the starter the rest of the way due to Graham Mertz’s season-ending injury.

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Lagway could ultimately be just fine as he develops and as long as it’s with winning football, Napier seems pleased.

“(His) quarterback rating (tonight), I think … is definitely winning football,” Napier said postgame. “He created some explosives. So maybe one black eye was the pick, you know, probably forced that one into coverage, but made some plays with his feet too, and that gets overlooked. The read element in the run game, and then there were a few where they covered us and he scrambled and was able to make some plays. 

“Ge’s only going to get better. And obviously, the work that he does between Sunday to Saturday contributes to what you see out there.”

Lagway finished the game seven-of-14 passing for 259 yards and one interception. He added 10 carries for 46 yards on the ground.

This season, Lagway is 54-of-86 for 1,024 yards, five touchdowns, five interceptions and a 62.8% completion percentage.

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As a member of the Class of 2024, Lagway was a five-star-plus recruit out of Willis (Texas) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 1 quarterback in the class and the No. 3 overall prospect in the class.

Following a missed opportunity against Tennessee, Lagway, Napier and Florida got back on the winning end of things Saturday.

“I think No. 1 is just the resiliency that this group has shown,” he said. “They’ve been through a lot. They’ve been beat up. They’ve been talked about. For them to continue to work in the fashion they have been working, and again, it’s the way we compete. It’s how hard we play.

“That’s gotta be part of our DNA. But I’m just proud of the resiliency of the group. For them to go through what they went through last week and to show up this week, it’s pretty special.”