DJ Lagway featured in new Gatorade commercial with Michael Jordan
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway is featured in a star-studded Gatorade commercial that is narrated by Michael Jordan.
The new ad premiered Tuesday night during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals and includes Caitlin Clark, Jayson Tatum, Josh Allen, A’ja Wilson and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
The commercial premiered Tuesday night during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.
On3 reports that Lagway has inked an NIL deal with Gatorade and becomes the first NIL athlete to be featured in a national commercial. He was the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Lagway was a consensus five-star recruit and the crown jewel of Florida’s 2024 class as the nation’s unanimous No. 1 quarterback and the program’s most decorated recruit since Tim Tebow.
Lagway collected numerous national awards after throwing for 4,604 yards and 58 touchdowns as a senior, including 2023 National Gatorade Player of the Year, 2023 Bobby Dodd National Back (High School Heisman) of the Year and 2023 MaxPreps Player of the Year.
“I see a kid who loves to play and he’s fun to coach. He’s got unique ability – the size, the athleticism, the arm talent,” Florida coach Billy Napier said of Lagway. “But probably the best thing about him is just the work ethic, the desire to learn, the perspective and understanding and awareness that he knows he’s got a lot of work to do to get better. … He loves the game, and that’s very apparent.”
Lagway enrolled early at UF and made a strong first impression in the Orange & Blue Game, throwing a pair of touchdowns and finishing with 173 yards on 12 of 21 passing.
Lagway split three defenders on his 22-yard touchdown to Aidan Mizell, and then he threw a 5-yard TD to Taylor Spierto with 7 seconds left in the first half to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
Lagway’s best throw of the day was a 32-yard pass that he rifled to Spierto from the right hash to the left sideline, delivering the ball over the head of sophomore cornerback Dijon Johnson.
“He kind of flipped the switch. You could see that competitive spirit a little bit,” Napier said of Lagway’s performance. “That’s the good thing because you don’t know. You can practice all spring, but when it’s time, I think he showed he’s a competitor, and he has the ability. It wasn’t too big for him. I think that was healthy.”
You can check out the full commercial below.
![A touchdown is celebrated with fireworks in the first half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 17, 2022. [Cyndi Chambers/Gainesville Sun] Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Usf Bulls](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2023/08/27214921/Untitled-design-4-4.png)
