After throwing five interceptions against LSU, DJ Lagway’s struggles have sparked doubts among Florida fans about his role and the impact on coach Billy Napier’s future. Lagway described his performance after the 20-10 loss, stating, “I’ve never had a performance like that in my life, so it’s kind of hard to process it. But, at the end of the day, it’s all about, how do you bounce back and how do you respond? And I’m planning on doing so.”

Many had expected Lagway to build on a promising end to 2024, but a series of injuries has hampered his progress. His offseason included rehabilitative efforts for a shoulder injury, initially sustained during high school baseball. Doctors recommended a rehab program to aid his recovery, which was complicated as Lagway faced additional injuries throughout the following season.

JP Tillman, Lagway’s personal quarterback coach highlighted the importance of practice and timing, stating, “It wasn’t like, OK, you’re ready, go and throw 100 balls in practice today. No, it was like, 20, 25, 30, and this wasn’t every day. We didn’t start throwing back to back until well into August.”

The Gators’ wider team also faced injuries, undermining Lagway’s attempts to find his rhythm with his receivers. His agent, Deiric Jackson, expressed concerns about the missing reps impacting Lagway’s performance, saying, “It’s like Steph Curry going the whole offseason without shooting 3s, then his first game back, you want him to shoot 50%. You have to have the reps.”

Despite these setbacks, Lagway remains optimistic. “It’s something he’s going to figure out,” said Tillman. With a challenging schedule ahead, the coming weeks will be crucial for the young quarterback’s development.