2025 Opponent Offseason Storylines: There's a large weight on DJ Lagway's shoulder

Florida head coach Billy Napier is entering an important fourth season in Gainesville. Napier is 19-19 as head coach of the Gators, winning eight games and a bowl last year despite facing one of the toughest schedules in all of college football. The often-embattled coach earned a fourth year in 2025 because of the progress his program made and because of a bright future associated with quarterback DJ Lagway.

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But a shoulder injury and other ailments for Lagway have raised questions about just how bright that future is. Lagway was an extremely limited participant in the Gators’ spring practice, not even throwing in most of spring and therefore losing an opportunity for crucial reps ahead of a make-or-break season for Napier.

Lagway has, however, begun to throw again. And Napier is on record in his belief that Lagway will be full go before the summer.

“We have no concern. We’ve dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s. We’ve been a little bit tight-lipped about it just in respect to the family and the way they want to handle it,” Napier said in mid April. “But in general, we have a really good plan, we’re working with exceptional people, and he’ll begin throwing here in a couple of weeks. Everything is on schedule. He’s in a great place. He’s been able to practice, he’s been able to stay connected with the team, and obviously, the return to play and the rehab part is going really well. We start OTAs the first week in June and he’ll be 100-percent by that point.”

Lagway’s father told On3’s Gators Online last week that the sophomore star is prepping for the season and now throwing.

“He’s throwing,” Lagway Sr. told Gators Online. “I think it’s 45 balls to 80 balls. Something like that. He’s working his way up. He’s taking his time. The arm is good. Feeling good. It’s just a process. It’s getting better. He’s excited. Very excited.”

Lagway, who was the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 class, was 115-192 last year for 1915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also added 101 rushing yards on the ground. He split time with Graham Mertz for much of the first portion of the season before eventually taking over, though he was injured versus Georgia and missed the Texas game due to lower body issues.

Once he returned, he helped the Gators finish on a four-game winning streak that included a bowl win over Tulane.

The 6-foot-3, 241-pounder from Willis (Texas) was a freshman All-American last year and was 6-1 in seven starts. In those starts, he was 86-for-120 (71.7%) for 1606 yards and 10 touchdowns over five interceptions, and that included wins over ranked LSU and Ole Miss teams.

Lagway’s promise has those around Florida investing in the program much in the same way Texas has invested in the program surrounding Arch Manning. The Gators weren’t active in the portal, and that’s written as a positive as UF retained needed pieces from several top-15 recruiting classes.

Two notable losses were top receivers Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike, and they went to the NFL. Returning? The next three returning receivers, leading rusher Jadan Baugh, and most of the 2024 O-line that was one of the most improved in the nation.

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The health of Lagway is a significant storyline not just for the Gators, but for all of college football. Lagway is seen as a possible top player in the sport, and if he can live up to his potential things portend well for Napier even with another challenging schedule. Florida has South Florida, at LSU, and at Miami in the first four weeks of the season before resting on a September 27 bye. Then, the Texas Longhorns make their first trip to Gainesville since 1940 on October 4.

Lagway’s shoulder (and the rest of his body) must be healthy for the Gators to live up to expectations this year. While things seem to be heading in the right direction, it must stay that way or else Florida could find itself staring down a tough schedule without the player UF needs in order to be competitive.

So much truly does depend on Lagway’s throwing shoulder. Can he shoulder the weight of those expectations?

2025 Opponent Offseason Storylines

• Ohio State: Can Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith carry a team?
• San Jose State: SJSU made key retentions not often seen at the G5 level
• UTEP: The Miners have a five-star quarterback?
• Sam Houston: Phil Longo has a lot of issues to deal with