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Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) warms up before the start of the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 7, 2024 against the Samford Bulldogs. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]
Quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] signed with Florida as one of the top-ranked recruits in the class of 2024. However, Gator Nation expected to see him sparingly as a true freshman with sixth-year college veteran Graham Mertz ahead of him on the depth chart.
Instead, Mertz went down with a concussion in Week 1 and opened the door for Lagway to get his first career start. The “rookie,” as head coach Billy Napier likes to say, shined brighter than most could even dream. He ended his first full game with more than 450 passing yards and three touchdowns.
It’s unclear how much Lagway will be on the field moving forward, especially if Mertz gets back to full health, but it’s quite evident that he’s one of the best first-year players in the country.
ESPN agreed with that statement by ranking Lagway fifth among all true freshmen through Week 2.
“It took only one start for the top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2024 class to make this list,” ESPN RecruitingNation coordinator Billy Tucker wrote.
“Acknowledging Florida was playing a lower-level opponent in Samford, Lagway made the throws of a seasoned QB. He showed both timing and accuracy in leading receivers in stride for huge plays all night, throwing for 456 yards, a Gators record for a true freshman, and also moved around the pocket and created plays with his legs.
“Last year’s National High School Football Gatorade Player of the Year gives Gators fans reason for optimism.”
Napier has said that Lagway will continue to see the field, but Mertz is still the team’s starter on paper. If Lagway can keep up that kind of play against SEC teams, the hope is…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-ranks-dj-lagway-among-213311521.html
Author : Gators Wire
Publish date : 2024-09-10 21:33:11
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