Florida football has a rising star in dual-threat quarterback DJ Lagway. According to 247 Sports, Lagway was one of three five-star quarterbacks in the 2024 recruiting class and the only one to earn a perfect 100 rating. He started the 2025 season as Florida’s backup but took over as the offensive leader after starting quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury.
Despite some inconsistent performances, Lagway handled the role well while playing through a lingering hamstring injury sustained in November. Looking ahead to 2025, Florida plans to take a cautious approach with his offseason development due to a reported shoulder injury. However, since Lagway did not suffer a shoulder issue last season and played the full bowl game victory over Tulane, one Florida football insider suspects there may be something “fishy” going on in Gainesville regarding the team’s prized quarterback.
Earlier this offseason, Florida football announced that quarterback DJ Lagway would have limited participation in throwing activities due to a shoulder injury. However, on Thursday, Mark Young of the Associated Press reported that Lagway did not suffer a shoulder injury last season.
Young mentioned that he questioned Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier about the severity of the injury and the possibility of surgery. Napier emphasized that Lagway has not undergone any surgical procedures.
“We have consulted with quite a few experts here at UF Health, as we do with many of our players, to get a second opinion,” Napier stated when addressing Lagway’s developing shoulder issue.
Young also raised concerns about how Lagway played in the season finale against Tulane without any signs of an upper-body injury but is now reportedly dealing with shoulder problems. In the Gasparilla Bowl, Lagway completed 22 of 35 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown while also recording five carries for seven yards and throwing two interceptions.