Gainesville, Florida – In just his second game as a true freshman, DJ Lagway made a remarkable impression on Saturday. The former standout quarterback from Willis, Texas, and 5-star recruit earned his first career start for the Gators against Samford, showcasing an impressive performance that fans won’t soon forget.
Lagway completed 18-of-25 passes for a whopping 456 yards, setting a new school record for most passing yards by a true freshman. The previous record was held by Chris Leak, who threw for 268 yards back in 2003 against Kentucky. Lagway’s contribution led Florida to a convincing 45-7 victory at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
During the first half, Lagway threw for 209 yards while completing 8-of-11 passes, helping Florida build a solid 14-0 lead. But it was in the second half where Lagway really shined, tossing three touchdown passes, including an impressive 85-yard completion. Although he came close to breaking the overall school record for passing yards in a single game, Lagway was taken out with the Gators comfortably ahead, falling just 26 yards short.
Before this game, Lagway had made his collegiate debut the previous week during a loss to nationally ranked Miami, where he went 3-of-6 for 31 yards but was intercepted once. Florida coach Billy Napier named Lagway the starter for the matchup against Samford, and the young quarterback certainly delivered on that decision.
Lagway’s first career touchdown pass came just under two minutes into the second half, a 36-yard throw to Tank Hawkins that pushed the score to 21-0. After Samford finally got on the board, he swiftly responded with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Aidan Mizell. With under ten minutes left in the game, Lagway executed a jet sweep play, pitching it to Tre Wilson, who dashed in from 85 yards out, extending the Gators’ lead to 38-7.
In his senior year at Willis in 2023, Lagway demonstrated his talent by throwing for over 4,600 yards and 58 touchdowns. His high school season was marked by a remarkable turnaround, leading his team to a 12-1 record after finishing 2-8 the previous year, capping it off with a run to the regional semifinals.
