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ESPN: Gators have among best QBs situations

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr05/23/25On3Keith
Florida-Gators-DJ-Lagway
Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) throws the ball against the Mississippi Rebels during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

ESPN’s David Hale has ranked all 136 FBS QB situations into tiers ahead of the 2025 season and the Florida Gators’ quarterback room was placed among the best. Hale noted, “we’ve done the heavy lifting of sifting through the depth charts of all 136 FBS teams, digging deep into the stats, and consulted our Magic Eight Ball to rank every QB situation in the country by tiers.”

A category named, “Tier 1: Top of the class” included the following teams and players:

Clemson: Cade Klubnik, Christopher Vizzina
LSU: Garrett Nussmeier, Michael Van Buren Jr.
Oklahoma: John Mateer, Michael Hawkins Jr., Whitt Newbauer
Penn State: Drew Allar, Ethan Grunkemeyer
South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers, Air Noland

Florida was listed in the category just below that: “Tier 1b: So hot right now”

Florida: DJ Lagway, Harrison Bailey
Miami: Carson Beck, Emory Williams
Texas: Arch Manning, Matthew Caldwell

Wrote Hale: “The conversation around Manning and Lagway is two former five-star recruits who appear on the verge of breakout performances. Their ceilings are ridiculously high, but their actual on-field production so far leaves plenty of room for questions.”

Additionally, Hale cited this interesting stat—Returning QBs who averaged at least 9 yards per attempt last season: Lagway, 9.97; Blake Horvath, 9.73; Darian Mensah, 9.49; Mateer, 9.05; Deshawn Purdie, 9.01

Florida Gators QB DJ Lagway is coming off a promising freshman season

Lagway, a rising sophomore, threw for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions as a true freshman. He was instrumental in the Gators’ strong finish to the 2024 season. However, when spring camp opened in March, the team announced he was dealing with a lower-body/ shoulder issue. To avoid further complications, the coaching staff limited his participation.

Despite being sidelined from throwing, Lagway remained engaged throughout camp. He stayed active by mimicking quarterback drills from behind the play and continued participating in other developmental activities. He even started the Orange & Blue Game in April, taking multiple snaps—though he only handed the ball off on each play.

Less than two weeks after that spring game, Lagway began throwing again in the Jacksonville area, working with trainer Tom Gormely and quarterbacks coach Will Hewlett. Both are seasoned specialists who have trained NFL quarterbacks Josh Allen, Brock Purdy, Anthony Richardson and Matthew Stafford. Lagway has since returned to Gainesville, where he’s continuing his progress under Florida quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara.

Bailey, a Louisville transfer, is battling Aidan Warner, a returning sophomore, for the No. 2 QB job in Gainesville. Bailey finished the Orange & Blue Game 29 of 43 for 363 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Warner, who replaced Lagway as the starter when Lagway was injured in 2024, was 10 of 23 for 157 yards and two scores in the spring game.

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