Devy Digest: Freshman Friday – DJ Lagway

 The Devy Digest, Freshman Friday’s – featuring Florida Gators QB DJ Lagway.

• DJ Lagway
• Position: Quarterback
• Florida Gators
  
• 6’2” 230 lbs
  
• Draft Eligible: 2027
  
• Devy Digest Freshman QB Rank: 3

Who is DJ Lagway?

DJ Lagway was a 4⭐️ in the composites who attended Willis High in Texas. Lagway was a two sport athlete early on and played basketball before deciding to solely focus on football. He held 32 offers, and verbally committed to Florida in December of 2022 and never wavered from that. He stuck with Florida, even when there was buzz late in the cycle about USC trying to come in at the last minute.

Lagway has a big body and a thick frame with a big, lively arm. At times, it seems like the ball just jumps out of his hands. As a passer, he makes off-platform throws by using multiple arm angles. With great arm velocity, Lagway makes throws without setting his feet. The quarterback is comfortable in climbing the pocket and reads defenses to make the play.

Lagway layers his throws and fits it into tight windows. He trusts his arm will get the ball to his receiver. As a runner, he has good mobility and is the mold of a power runner. He has designed runs on tape and has the ability to make a guy miss.

Being listed at 230 pounds, Lagway can take a hit and get up again. He is an instinctual runner, which is a trait he will use at the next level. As a runner, he nearly put up 1,000 yards on the ground and continues to improve as a passer.

Pathway to Success

Since starting quarterback Graham Mertz returns, DJ Lagway should be the immediate backup at Florida. It’s possible they can devise packages for Lagway as a true Freshman that include wildcat packages. It is not without reason that he could take over during the season as a true Freshman.

Florida has a tough schedule. If they start out 2-2 or 2-3, the coaching staff might make a switch at the position and Lagway could become the starter. Head coach Billy Napier might be on a short leash trying to save his job. If the Gators start slow, do not be surprised if Lagway becomes the starter to appease the fanbase and the NIL collective. The switch would allow Napier additional time to potentially save his job. 

Lagway has a big arm and could be an instinctual playmaker as a true Freshman. While raw, he is a playmaker. The Gators have a young nucleus and he could be the starter sooner or later. In this NIL world where USC tried late in the process to flip him, the Gators cannot afford to just sit Lagway if they start losing games.

It is a lot easier to sit a true Freshman when you’re winning. As soon as the Gators lose a couple of games, the fanbase will want to see Lagway hit the field and would be more open to those growing pains. Lagway would add instant juice to the position and would elevate receivers Eugene Wilson and Arlis Bordinham.

Lagway comes from an RPO/spread system from his final year of high school – where timing and quick decisions needed to be made. Because of this, Lagway is good with his first read and can then react. If he does play any substantial amount of time, that quick read and react approach will allow him to not be overwhelmed as a true Freshman. In SEC play, he can choose to take the first option or try to get to his second read or takeoff, which would simplify the game and keep the offense ahead of the chains.

Areas for Improvements & Concerns

DJ Lagway is still learning the position and raw as an overall quarterback. Instinctually, he is where you want a prospect to be. He is a good power runner and knows when to pull the ball down and take off. Lagway will not force something down the field and will use his legs to move the chains. Because of the RPO/spread system he played in was predicated on quick reads, Lagway needs receivers to get open quickly off the line. Right now at Florida, they really only have Eugene Wilson who can do that.

Florida has a lot of young and unproven players, such as Andy Jean and incoming true Freshman, Jerrae Hawkins. Both athletes are twitchy who can move laterally, but are unproven in the afternoons. Lagway might not have the weapons to be consistently successful early on as a passer. Systematically, we know Billy Napier wants to focus on the run, and running back Montrell Johnson is a favorite of the coach. Florida does have a loaded running backfield and it is not out of the question they will try to run the ball thirty times a game and limit the quarterback position.

Devy & C2C Value

In Devy drafts, quarterbacks are tricky. In some leagues, the freshman will go undrafted and managers will go for players that might be eligible for the very next year’s NFL draft class. While in other leagues, the freshman are picked up early. You need to know your league and where the position is valued.

As a blanket statement, in Devy leagues, Lagway should be in consideration. We know projecting quarterbacks is a difficult task, and some managers will avoid the position all together. Instead, they will wait until the product is finished and trade for them. If you want to take a chance on Lagway, he has the opportunity to be a top two player at the position.

In a C2C supplemental draft, managers will take Lagway in the first round and will likely go within the first twelve picks in most leagues. We mentioned earlier that projecting quarterbacks is very difficult to do, but sometimes you just take the risk.

I personally wouldn’t take him in the first two rounds of a supplemental draft and therefore will have no shares of Lagway. It’s not a talent question, but a projection question for me. I’d rather take a wide receiver in the early portion of a supplemental draft.

NFL Outlook

DJ Lagway reminds me a little bit of Cardale Jones. Probably not a popular comparison, as most people will want to reference Cam Newton or Anthony Richardson. There’s a lot of untapped potential, and Lagway is still raw and an unrefined product. I cannot say with confidence I see an Anthony Richardson or Cam Newton-like player like some people do.

Lagway has a big arm and is a power runner. He could develop into a very good talent. Being a top 10 NFL pick one day is well within his range of outcomes. But you are projecting someone at a position that is very hard to project. Lagway might be a superstar early on in his career, but the range of outcomes is immense with a player like this.

Cardale Jones was an exciting prospect that needed more refinement to his overall game, and never got that development that he needed. Lagway may be the same kind of prospect in the end.