DJ Lagway: Florida’s Rising Star Ranks Third Among On3’s Top College Football Players for 2025

by | Jan 30, 2025 | 0 comments

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has been recognized as one of college football’s most promising talents, securing the third spot in On3’s rankings of top returning players for 2025. The list, published by national writer Ari Wasserman, places Lagway as the highest-ranked player outside of national champion Ohio State, who claimed the top two spots with receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs respectively.

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Here’s what Wasserman wrote about the Gators signal caller and why he ranked him so high at No. 3:

“There is no question you’ll find more accomplished players on this list, but you could make the case that Lagway is the most important player to his team in college football. Though there are undoubtedly things he needs to work on, it was evident from the second he stepped on the field at Florida that he has a chance to be one of the great ones. His potential is so high, in fact, that he could be the get out of jail free card that eventually leads to Billy Napier being the Gators coach into the future. Lagway is big, strong, physical and has a rocket arm. This may seem too high right now, but it’ll become clear early in the season next year that he’s one of the most sensational talents in our sport.”

The recognition comes after an outstanding freshman season that saw Lagway collect multiple All-American honors and earn the title of Freshman Quarterback of the Year from several prominent organizations including ESPN, FWAA, and 247Sports.



In his debut season, Lagway demonstrated remarkable efficiency, posting impressive statistics with 1,915 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and maintaining a perfect 6-0 record as a starter. His exceptional deep-passing ability earned him the second-highest PFF passing depth grade nationally at 95.8.

The young quarterback’s journey was marked by several memorable performances, including a record-breaking 456-yard game against Samford and crucial victories in high-stakes matchups. His leadership particularly shone through in clutch moments, such as engineering a crucial game-tying drive against Tennessee.

Lagway’s impact peaked during the season’s final stretch, when he led the Gators to four straight victories—including notable wins over ranked opponents LSU and Ole Miss, as well as traditional rival Florida State. He capped off his season with an MVP performance at the Gasparilla Bowl, leading a commanding 33-8 victory over Tulane while throwing for 305 yards and a touchdown.

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