Florida’s premier quarterback, DJ Lagway, made his much-anticipated return to preseason camp on Saturday, actively participating by throwing passes while sporting a sleeve on his left leg after a strained calf injury in the summer. This marks an essential recovery step for the Heisman Trophy contender, who missed out on spring practice due to a previous shoulder injury and has experienced several setbacks since he began his college career last year.

Lagway, a sophomore, had previously strained his hamstring in the same leg during the last season, sidelining him for a week. Gators coach Billy Napier mentioned that Lagway would start camp with limitations and is currently on a day-to-day status.

“In general, he’s made a lot of quick progress,” said Napier. “But it will be something that we’re monitoring, and hopefully as we go, his ability to participate in practice will increase with each opportunity.”

As long as this latest setback remains minor, Lagway is expected to be back in action before Florida’s opening game against Long Island. His performance could significantly impact the Gators’ season, potentially positioning them as darkhorse contenders for the SEC Championship.

Lagway had a remarkable finish to his freshman season, guiding Florida to victories in the last four games, including two against ranked teams. He completed 59.9% of his passes throughout the year and demonstrated his prowess with a spectacular 456-yard game against Samford and a strong 305-yard performance in a Gasparilla Bowl victory over Tulane.

Having joined Florida last year as the top-ranked quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, Lagway is seen as a pivotal figure in the program’s future, with aspirations to enhance a Gators team that had struggled recently under Napier’s leadership. If successful, he might also solidify his position as a top prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft.