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Tim Tebow, DJ Lagway pose together at EA Sports College Football 26 cover shoot

by: Alex Byington05/22/25_AlexByington
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Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.

The past and present of Florida football finally came together on Thursday when Gators legend Tim Tebow met rising sophomore QB DJ Lagway during a photo shoot for a cover of the upcoming EA Sports College Football 26 video game. The picture came via Kurt Napier, the brother of Florida head coach Billy Napier.

Laggway is one of nine current college football stars that will be featured on multiple covers, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Tebow will be featured on a “Legends” cover along with former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. EA College Football 26 will also feature a “Coaches” cover with Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Penn State’s James Franklin, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham participating, per Nakos.

Lagway, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, enters the 2025 season as Florida’s established starting QB after leading the Gators to a 6-1 record across seven starts last season. He replaced injured former UF quarterback Graham Mertz midway through the 2024 season and sparked a late-season surge that helped Napier secure another season as head coach.

After missing much of Spring practice nursing multiple injuries, Lagway has recently resumed throwing and is expected to be full-go when the Gators start preseason camp in August. Lagway threw for 1,915 yards on 60% passing and 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions as a true freshman in 2024.

DJ Lagway injury update: Billy Napier offers latest on recovery, timeline

The status of Florida rising sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway was the talk of the town in and around Gainesville this Spring. The Gators’ starting QB has been severely limited by shoulder and lower body injuries.

But in the days following the conclusion of Florida’s Spring game, in which Lagway was a non-participant, fourth-year Gators head coach Billy Napier downplayed concerns. The coach said everything is going according to plan with his superstar quarterback.

“We have no concern. We’ve dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s. We’ve been a little bit tight-lipped about it just in respect to the family and the way they want to handle it,” Napier told SEC Network’s Peter Burns and Chris Doering. “But in general, we have a really good plan, we’re working with exceptional people, and he’ll begin throwing here in a couple of weeks.

“Everything is on schedule. He’s in a great place,” Napier added. “He’s been able to practice, he’s been able to stay connected with the team, and obviously the return to play and the rehab part is going really well. We start OTAs the first week in June and he’ll be 100% by that point.”