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Billy Napier provides health update on Gators quarterback DJ Lagway

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr08/11/25On3Keith
DJ-Lagway-Florida-Gators
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks on during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 2, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

Even though sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway did not participate in last Saturday’s first scrimmage of preseason practice, Florida Gators coach Billy Napier remains optimistic about the touted player’s recovery from a recent calf injury.

“I think he’s doing great,” Napier said Monday. “I think he’s on schedule; he’s executing our plan.”

Lagway was injured a week before preseason camp began and has, in Napier’s words, been “modified” thus far in practice. However, his work load has apparently steadily increased. Lagway previously did not throw during spring practice due to what Napier called a “lower body/shoulder” injury. 

He had a strong practice to start the week, per Napier

“He had a great day [Monday],” Napier said addressing the media after Monday’s practice. “Think he had his best day today. He took more reps today than he’s been taking. Obviously, he didn’t participate in the scrimmage [last Saturday] but he’s hitting all his numbers from a throw perspective. The ball is coming out of his hand with more velocity than anytime in his career. … We’re working on soft tissue with the calf and we’re going to execute our plan there. So, he’ll be modified for awhile.”

Florida begins the season Aug. 30 at home vs. Long Island University. Napier was asked Monday if Lagway has done enough in practice where he is able to skip scrimmage reps and still be ready for that game. Napier wasn’t sure.

“I think that’s to be determined,” Napier said. “Look, any football player would be better off taking the reps. But the key is to be creative in terms of how we format practice, format the walk-through. We’ve got to maximize all the mental reps. The process reps. The communication reps.

It’s not ideal, that’s the way I’ve kind of put it in the past and I still kind of stand by that. In a perfect world, he’d be 100 percent, taking every single rep. He’s not able to do that. … He’s getting 70 competitive throws every day. So his workload is high, it’s just not with a pass rush. We’re controlling the environment, trying to take care of him from a soft tissue standpoint.”

DJ Lagway is coming off a promising freshman season

Last season as a true freshman, DJ Lagway flashed his potential by passing for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He played a pivotal role in helping Florida finish 8–5 [with four straight wins to close the season]. Lagway started seven games (most after veteran quarterback Graham Mertz was lost for the season with a torn ACL), going 6–1. To his credit, he played injured [hamstring] during UF’s stretch run.

With Lagway’s health issues have come concerns about the lost time this offseason in his development. He’s still young, after all, and building chemistry/timing with his receivers, many of whom are new to the roster, is critical for the Gators.

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