DJ Lagway, Florida's prospective Heisman contender, has been held fairly quiet this offseason.
There's reason for hope in the Florida panhandles, an area that has long shown reverence for gifted gunslingers.
For all of their struggles, the Gators have had their fair share of talented twirlers. Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Tebow, and others all flashed excellence during their time in The Swamp.
DJ Lagway hopes to join that list soon. He certainly has the pedigree for it.
Lagway is one of college football's most highly touted performers. His first-year numbers popped. One year later, he has a chance to push himself up the college football ladder — and perhaps net a bit of hardware along the way.
There aren't many things that stand in the way of Lagway achieving his college football aims. Injuries can. Unfortunately for the teenager, they have, too.
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With that, here's what you need to know about Lagway's latest injury, an apparent calf strain.
DJ Lagway injury update
Lagway enters the 2025 season as a Heisman hopeful, his freshman year success appearing to be a boon for further development.
There's been just one limitation to that premise — Lagway has barely been on the field.
The 19-year old has been felled by a calf strain as of late. His leg is currently cloaked by a walking boot. Head coach Billy Napier was unable to provide a potential timetable for Lagway's potential return.
"It's not ideal," Napier said, per ESPN. "In the perfect world, he would be perfect every day of the offseason. I think the good thing is his attitude toward it. I think that's a positive. ... He's in Year 2, I think he understands what's required to be ready. It's not ideal, but I think ultimately we'll come up with the best plan we can to have him ready."
Lagway completed 60 percent of his passes in 2024, tallying 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in seven starts. He rose to the top of the depth chart after taking over for injured signal-caller Graham Mertz. The Gators went 6-1 under his stewardship, entrenching his place under center in Gainesville.
For all of his exploits, Lagway — the No. 1 QB recruit in the Class of 2024 — has struggled to stay on the field. He injured his right foot at the Under Armour All-American Game in January 2024 and missed parts of last fall's training camp with shoulder soreness.
Lagway also missed a matchup against Texas with a strained left hamstring last season and was sidelined for the whole of spring with a shoulder issue after undergoing sports hernia surgery.
"Injuries are one of the terrible things about the profession — and certainly for him being a Year 2 player and a really motivated and hungry guy," Napier said. "I think he's done a good job staying connected. I think he still has a voice as a leader. He's still walking the halls. He's still able to be a factor in that regard.
"But he's still a very young player and needs these reps for development as well. When he gets back, he'll be just fine. He's had a great attitude toward it, and we've got to help him manage expectations a little bit as well."
With Lagway on the mend, expect journeyman gunslinger Harrison Bailey to get most first-team reps. The former Tennessee, UNLV, and Louisville hurler should get a chance to strut his stuff before Napier and Co. With Lagway's injury woes, it could become a sort of tryout.
Category: General Sports
