In the case of school debuts for true freshmen quarterbacks, there gained’t be many higher performances than the one which five-star D.J. Lagway put collectively for the Florida Gators of their 45-7 win over Samford in Week 2.
Lagway, who began rather than an injured Graham Mertz, did nothing to quiet the hype round, tossing for 456 yards and three touchdowns, whereas finishing 72 % of his passes on Saturday.
The No. 1 quarterback recruit within the Class of 2024, Lagway was an explosive machine, averaging 18.2 yards per try, whereas finishing six passes for not less than 30 yards in a powerful efficiency for the Gators.
Furthermore, Lagway simply broke the prior college report for passing yards by a freshman, crushing Chris Leak’s mark of 268 yards, which was set again in 2003.
With a powerful efficiency in Week 3, the true freshman is already creating questions across the beginning quarterback place at Florida, already topping Graham Mertz’s career-high in passing yards in a single sport.
Mertz struggled within the season opener in opposition to the Miami Hurricanes, tossing for simply 91 yards and an interception on 11 of 20 passing earlier than sustaining a concussion that prompted Lagway to enter the sport.
Forward of Florida’s Week 3 matchup in opposition to Texas A&M, head coach Billy Napier affirmed that the plan is to make use of each quarterbacks, ought to Mertz clear the concussion protocol.
“Our intention the complete time has been to play DJ [Lagway] in each sport,” Napier stated. “Clearly, he will get a little bit bit extra skilled every week. For him to have the chance to be the starter, put together with the 1s after which go play and the best way he did that, the poise, the composure, it exhibits he’s able to do what we intend to do with him going ahead. There’s little question each these guys will make us tougher to defend.”
There’s been a whole lot of these dynamics over time by way of having a veteran participant who’s achieved, who’s had an excellent profession that’s coming again, who’s in a management function and then you definitely’ve bought this younger expertise,” Napier added. “We’re going to do what’s in one of the best curiosity of the crew. Each these gamers could make our crew higher. The beauty of it’s there’s an excellent relationship there. There’s confidence, there’s humility from each guys and I believe there’s a wholesome respect from the crew and the workers for each gamers.”
Nevertheless, the pinnacle coach was definitely impressed by Lagway’s first begin, sharing that “he’s what we thought he was” after the sport.
“I’m ecstatic we’ve bought an excellent younger participant within the constructing,” Napier affirmed. “Everyone knows he’s very gifted. I’m hopeful he can try this on any stage in opposition to any opponent.”
If he continues to play like he did in opposition to Samford, Lagway will make it harder and harder to disclaim him taking part in time, as he confirmed all of the indicators of being the long run for Florida along with his robust begin on Saturday.
Given Florida’s extraordinarily powerful schedule this season, with a number of matchups in opposition to top-25 groups, together with ones in opposition to the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 2 Texas Longhorns, the Gators could in the end want to only trip with the choice that greatest permits them to win soccer video games.
Regardless, the D.J. Lagway period has solely simply began, with far more to doubtless are available in his true freshman season.
