Florida bringing in pair of monster prospects in QB DJ Lagway and DL LJ McCray
Florida’s 2024 recruiting class was put through the wringer down the stretch, but Billy Napier and the Gators made do.
Despite falling to No. 11 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, Gators fans can relish in the fact that they have two of the best prospects in the nation already enrolled in Gainesville.
On Monday, the final 2024 On300 was released, and Florida’s top two signees — Five-Star Plus+ quarterback DJ Lagway and five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray — each checked in inside the top 10. Lagway is On3’s No. 1 QB and the No. 2 overall prospect, while McCray checks in as the top-ranked DL and the No. 6 recruit.
On3’s Director of Rankings and Scouting Charles Power joined Andy Staples to discuss how the two dominated as seniors in high school and what kind of players the Gators are getting in The Swamp.
Lagway ‘has the complete skillset’ as a QB
It’s no secret that Lagway is capable of putting points on the board. He dominated all season long for Willis (Texas) High, taking his team to the state playoffs by delivering multi-touchdown performances by the boat load.
“DJ Lagway, I think had clearly the best senior season of any quarterback in the 2024 cycle. That’s one thing that we’ve been saying all along with our evaluation process: senior season at QB is the best predictor, historically, of projecting success at the position, and Lagway showed a bunch of improvement as a senior, he put up eye-popping stats and led his team to their best season,” Power said.
Not to mention Lagway claimed Gatorade National Player of the Year honors to round out his incredible high school campaign. Napier and the Gators are getting a certified winner under center. Power thinks the best is yet to come, too.
“I think he had 74 total touchdowns, threw for over 4,600 yards, 72% completion percentage … ran for 900 yards, maybe 15, 16 touchdowns, I think he’s arguably the top arm-talent in the cycle, in addition to being the most mobile top quarterback,” he said. “He has a complete skillset at QB and I think Lagway has room to improve … he’s already a fantastic player, was Gatorade National Player of the Year, I think the fact that he has upside to continue to improve should be exciting for Florida fans.”
McCray also put together an amazing senior campaign
Things took off for McCray during his senior season at Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland. The 6-foot-6 lineman was an animal all over the field and helped his team make history. He continued to rise with every rankings update and is also in the conversation for best defensive prospect in the entire cycle.
“LJ McCray was similar on the defensive side, I think he arguably had the best senior season of any defender nationally,” Power said. “He had 37 tackles-for-loss, led Daytona Mainland to their first state title in I believe 20 years. He’s a guy who’s always been a high-upside prospect, but he flipped the switch as senior. Played with outstanding effort level, physical.”