Florida Gators signee DJ Lagway named Gatorade National Player of the Year
DJ Lagway, the Florida Gators’ 5-star quarterback signee from Willis (Texas), has been named the Gatorade National Player of the Year — one of the most prestigious honors in high school sports.
Lagway, an Under Armour All-American, passed for 4,631 yards, 58 touchdowns and 6 interceptions while completing 72.1 percent of his attempts in 2023. He added 975 rushing yards as his team went 12-1.
Lagway is the fourth Florida signee to win the award.
The others are running back Emmitt Smith (1986-87), quarterback Brock Berlin (1999-2000) and quarterback John Brantley (2006-07).
Smith, now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was in Gainesville on Thursday to help honor Lagway.
Alabama quarterback signee Julian Sayin and sophomore Southern California quarterback commit Julian Lewis were the other finalists for the award. Lagway is the No. 10 overall recruit and No. 2 QB in the On3 Industry Rankings. Sayin is the only quarterback ranked ahead of him at this time. The final rankings for the 2024 class will be revealed later this winter.
“I want to congratulate DJ on becoming this year’s Gatorade National Football Player of the Year,” Gators coach Billy Napier said. “We all know what a big deal this award is and we are all aware of DJ’s talent, but this award is also a testament to the type of person he is off the field. The way he carries himself, his character, his work ethic, his drive and his focus are the things that make him exceptional. I’m proud of him.”
Lagway competed in Wednesday’s Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando — a game he left in the first half with a foot injury. He moved to Gainesville on Thursday morning and will begin classes next week.
After the game Wednesday, Florida linebacker signee Myles Graham, the son of Gators running back great Earnest Graham, praised Lagway.
“He’s the best quarterback in the nation,” he said. “And it’s not even close. He’s the most complete quarterback, the smartest and he’s going to put the University of Florida on his back. I’m excited to play with him.”
DJ Lagway moved to Gainesville on Thursday; he begins classes next week
Lagway said this week he was excited to begin the next chapter of his life in Gainesville.
“It’s going to be cool,” he said. “I’m definitely going to miss my family and all that. I just want to enjoy it. You only go to college once. I’m definitely going to have a good time and just learn and be a football player.”
Florida inexplicably has put three straight losing seasons on the board for the first time since the 1940s. Lagway hopes to help take the program back to the top.
“My hometown wasn’t a winning school, wasn’t a winning town. I feel like me coming in there and trying to change the atmosphere and the way of the town and I feel like I did that,” Lagway said Wednesday. “I started off my freshman year with two wins,” he said of going to high school. “Then my sophomore year six and then (senior year) twelve. I think you just have to have winners. That’s why me and LJ (McCray) and all the other commits are trying to bring. I’m trying to do that in Gainesville.”
