DJ Lagway injury update: Billy Napier offers latest on recovery, timeline
The status of Florida rising sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway has been the talk of the town in and around Gainesville this Spring, as the Gators’ starting QB has been severely limited by shoulder and lower body injuries.
But in the days following the conclusion of Florida’s Spring game last Saturday, during which Lagway was a non-participant, fourth-year Gators head coach Billy Napier said everything is going according to plan with his superstar quarterback.
“We have no concern. We’ve dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s. We’ve been a little bit tight-lipped about it just in respect to the family and the way they want to handle it,” Napier told SEC Network’s Peter Burns and Chris Doering on Friday. “But in general, we have a really good plan, we’re working with exceptional people, and he’ll begin throwing here in a couple of weeks.
“Everything is on schedule. He’s in a great place,” Napier added. “He’s been able to practice, he’s been able to stay connected with the team, and obviously the return to play and the rehab part is going really well. We start OTAs the first week in June and he’ll be 100-percent by that point.”
That’s certainly welcomed news for an anxious Gators fanbase, which understands their 2025 season rests on the shoulders of a healthy Lagway showing the flash that guided Florida to a 6-1 record in seven starts in 2024 after replacing an injured Graham Mertz as QB1.
Billy Napier offers analysis of Florida QB room at the end of Spring
DJ Lagway will be Florida’s starting quarterback when the regular season begins, but less is known about the rest of the quarterback room. Featuring mix of an incoming freshman, a transfer and a returner, the Gators do have some depth the star sophomore.
Tramell Jones, a four-star recruit, Harrison Bailey, a transfer from Louisville, and Aidan Warner, who saw same playing time in 2024 after Graham Mertz‘s injury, all suited up for the Gators throughout the spring to show who’s the best fit the second-string signal caller. Head coach Billy Napier revealed his thoughts on his quarterback room after Saturday’s spring finale.
“It’s competitive,” Napier said. “I thought — you guys watched the scrimmage today. I think those guys were very capable and I thought Aidan did a good job running his team and I think Harrison maybe a little bit of a slow start, the players around him, some drops. The protection at times could have been a little better, but in general, I was pleased. There were a few situations where we took sacks.
“I think we got to manage the pocket a little bit better, but, yeah. I feel good. Tramell got two possessions today. He’s probably 90% coming off the injury and then we’ll start over the teaching progression in summer A and I think that, obviously, will be big for him. So all three of those guys need to continue to improve.”
Bailey, who was the Sun Bowl MVP four months ago for his previous squad was the most impressive by the numbers on Saturday. He completed 29 of his 43 passes for 363 yards and threw one interception. Warner completed 10 of his 23 passes of 157 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as well.
— On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.
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