Florida QB DJ Lagway Struggles to Find Rhythm During Critical Stretch of Gators Season…Read More…

Florida QB DJ Lagway Struggles to Find Rhythm During Critical Stretch of Gators Season…Read More…

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway, once one of the most heralded young signal‑callers in college football, has faced a deeply challenging 2025 season marked by inconsistency, mechanical issues, and a long‑running effort to regain his early‑career form. His struggles have become a central storyline in a disappointing campaign for the Gators, who are fighting to stabilize the offense amid a series of setbacks.

Lagway entered the season with high expectations after a strong freshman year at the University of Florida. But what was expected to be a breakthrough sophomore campaign has instead become a roller‑coaster of missed opportunities and imbalanced performances. In early games against top‑tier opponents such as No. 3 LSU, Lagway threw five interceptions, one of the most glaring moments in a stretch of inconsistent play that saw Florida fall behind early in several contests.

Much of Lagway’s early‑season struggles can be traced back to injuries and limited repetitions, which disrupted his offseason preparation. Lagway entered spring and summer dealing with a combination of a shoulder issue, a core muscle injury that required surgery, and a later calf strain — all of which significantly curtailed his throwing reps and prevented him from developing chemistry with his receivers. In fact, Lagway missed much of the critical offseason throwing work, with many of his practice reps limited to non‑throwing drills, leaving him with fewer opportunities to refine his mechanics heading into the season.

Even as the season progressed, Lagway’s vertical passing game — once a major strength — nearly vanished. Analysts noted that where he once ranked among the best deep‑ball throwers in college football in 2024, in 2025 he attempted just a handful of deep passes and connected on few of them. Opposing defenses routinely took away the deep ball, and Lagway struggled to adjust his reads and timing, resulting in a diminished offense and missed scoring opportunities.

The struggles have had on‑field repercussions. During a 38‑7 loss to Kentucky, Lagway was benched after throwing three interceptions in the first half — a rare demotion for a quarterback once considered a cornerstone of Florida’s future. Despite being replaced for part of the game, Florida’s coaching staff ultimately kept faith in him as the starter, emphasizing that Lagway remains a central part of the team’s plans.

Off the field, the pressure on Lagway has also grown as Florida’s coaching situation shifted. The 2025 season saw the Dolphins fire head coach Billy Napier and hire interim coach Billy Gonzales, creating uncertainty around offensive strategy and leadership. That unstable context has only compounded the challenges Lagway faces in finding consistency.

Despite all this, Lagway — known for his work ethic — has spoken openly about the emotional toll of the season. After a tough late‑season loss to Ole Miss, Lagway described the year as “emotionally draining,” while also expressing a desire to continue learning and improving. His statistics — including more interceptions than touchdowns in several stretches — reflect a player struggling to reconcile earlier promise with current results.

With the 2025 season winding down and Florida’s bowl prospects fading, Lagway’s fight to regain rhythm remains a microcosm of the Gators’ broader offensive woes. What was once a promising trajectory now hinges on whether he can overcome injuries, rebuild confidence, and take a step forward in 2026.