DJ Lagway Shines as Florida Gators Dominate Samford
GAINESVILLE, FL – In just his second game as a true freshman, DJ Lagway showcased his talent and potential for the Florida Gators on Saturday. Lagway, a highly-rated 5-star quarterback recruit from Willis, Texas, made a memorable start at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, leading the Gators to a resounding 45-7 victory over Samford.
Lagway completed an impressive 18-of-25 passes for 456 yards, setting a new school record for most passing yards by a true freshman in a single game. The previous record stood since 2003, when Chris Leak threw for 268 yards against Kentucky. With his standout performance, Lagway came within 26 yards of breaking the all-time school record for passing yards in a game.
In the first half, Lagway settled into his role, recording 209 yards on 8-of-11 passing, while the Gators built an early 14-0 lead. However, it was in the second half where Lagway really turned up the heat. He launched three touchdown passes, including a remarkable 85-yard strike that electrified the crowd.
Lagway’s first career touchdown pass came shortly after halftime, connecting with Tank Hawkins for 36 yards, extending Florida’s lead to 21-0. After Samford finally got on the board, Lagway responded by finding Aidan Mizell for a 41-yard touchdown. To cap off his remarkable day, he handed off to Tre Wilson, who took it all the way for an 85-yard touchdown run, further solidifying Florida’s control of the game.
This outing comes on the heels of Lagway’s collegiate debut last week, where he stepped in after starting quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a concussion in a loss to Miami. Though he struggled in that game, Lagway showed coach Billy Napier that he was ready to take the reins against Samford, and the freshman made sure to reward that trust with his standout performance.
As a senior in high school, Lagway had an incredible season, throwing for more than 4,600 yards and 58 touchdowns, helping lead Willis to a strong 12-1 record. His high school success now seems to be translating well to the college level as he continues to grow as a key contributor for the Gators.
