Mike Elko describes his impression of DJ Lagway

For the first time since 2016, Texas A&M has opened the season with a 5-0 record.

The Aggies are up to No. 5 in this week’s AP Poll Rankings after rolling over Mississippi State 31-9 on Saturday. After opening against UTSA and Utah State, A&M boasts three strong wins against No. 8 Notre Dame, Auburn and Mississippi State.

As it looks to get to 6-0 this weekend, head coach Mike Elko discussed Florida quarterback DJ Lagway during a media opportunity on Monday. The Aggies and Gators will collide in Gainesville in just the eighth ever meeting of the programs. A&M leads the all-time series 4-3, but that could certainly be tied up this weekend with how hard it is to earn a road win in Gainesville.

“I think DJ is obviously a kid that we’ve known and tried very hard to get him here,” Elko said. “He’s an extremely talented quarterback. I think again, media narratives to me are so funny. I think he’s playing so much better and he’s made a lot of growth and taken a lot of strides. He seems very comfortable back there so yeah, I think he’s playing at a really high level. He’s a talented kid.”

Lagway is reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week

Lagway struggled mightily to open the season after being tabbed a perennial preseason Heisman Trophy favorite. Through Florida‘s first four games of the season, Lagway passed for an average of 172.5 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions (five in 18-16 loss to LSU). He however was phenomenal in the Gators’ 29-22 win over No. 9 Texas, as he passed for 298 yards, two touchdowns and just one interception.

For his efforts, the sophomore quarterback was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week.

“He works like no one else,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said about Lagway following the Texas win. “For him, this experience is something I keep talking to him about. I tell him, ‘Look, you’re going to be playing this game for a long time, and there are going to be days like this, weeks like this.’ Playing in this league or the next one — every team is a good team. You’re going to have bad days, and you’ve got to have an identity independent of the game.”

“That’s where his faith comes in. He can stand on that. Maybe someone else who doesn’t have that foundation would struggle, but he has it — and that’s what makes him really unique.”

Kickoff between No. 5 Texas A&M and Florida this Saturday is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN.