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DJ Lagway’s father addresses viral video with his son and UGA players

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi15 hours agoZachAbolverdi
DJ-Lagway-Florida-Gators
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) gives a fan a hand shake after Georgia defeated Florida 24-20 in an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

DJ Lagway’s father, Derek Lagway Sr., took to X on Monday morning to address a viral post involving his son on the social media platform. The video surfaced after Florida’s 24-20 loss to rival Georgia on Saturday in Jacksonville.

In the 24-second clip, which was shared by Daren Stoltzfus, Lagway is seen embracing four Georgia players and also taking a quick picture with a UGA staffer. One of the players, linebacker Justin Williams, gets animated with Lagway and makes him smile.

The video, which has amassed over a million views, has been criticized by some posters on the app for Lagway’s interactions with rival players after a loss. His father posted this response:

“Please make sure you understand the situation before speaking on it. Those kids have been playing with and against each other since little league and all through high school — they’re like family to us. I promise you, DJ Lagway wants to win more than anybody you know. #GoGators #Gatornation”

The first three players Lagway embraces in the clip are wide receiver Dillon Bell (No. 86), Williams (No. 19) and defensive lineman Joseph Jonah-Ajonye. Bell is from Houston, while Jonah-Ajonye and Williams were teammates at Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, Texas. That’s 14 minutes away from Lagway’s hometown of Willis, Texas.

Lagway played against them in high school, but as his father wrote, he and Williams go back further. Williams appears to recall a conversation with Lagway from sixth grade and says “I told you!” as he starts jumping up and down, which makes him smile.

Lagway threw for 166 yards and a touchdown on 15-for-24 passing against Georgia. Saturday marked just his second time this season where Lagway wasn’t sacked and his third game with no interceptions, but he underthrew a potential game-winning touchdown to J.Michael Sturdivant late in the fourth quarter that was ruled incomplete.

“It was not good enough,” Lagway said of his performance. “Moved around a little bit better than I have in the past. Legs are starting to get back under me; starting to feel like myself again.

“Missed some throws. Could have hit J. Michael in a better throw there. Throwing off one leg. Should have put a little more on it. Just not making the timely throws.”

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