Florida Gators sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway will start fall camp limited due to a calf injury sustained last week, head coach Billy Napier revealed on Tuesday. Despite the minor setback, both Napier and offensive coordinator Russ Callaway remain optimistic about their young signal-caller’s development and imminent return.
The injury comes after Lagway was also limited during spring practice, but coaches emphasize this is merely a temporary hurdle for the talented sophomore.
“It’s not ideal, but I think the good thing is his attitude towards it,” Napier said. “Coach O’Hara has done a good job of being creative… just ways to keep him connected, keep him processing.”
Despite the physical limitations, Lagway has remained actively involved in the team’s preparation. “He was able to take a million reps,” Napier noted about their summer OTAs. “We do some of that without a ball, some with a ball.”
Napier expressed confidence in Lagway’s readiness: “He’s in year two. He understands what’s required to be ready. It’s not ideal, but ultimately we’ll come up with the best plan we can to have him ready.”
While missing physical reps is challenging for any young quarterback, Lagway continues to make his presence felt within the program. “He’s done a good job staying connected,” Napier said. “He still has a voice as a leader. He’s still walking the halls. He’s still able to be a factor in that regard.”
Offensive coordinator Russ Callaway highlighted Lagway’s exceptional mental approach, recalling his performance before their game against Samford: “This kid’s on another level from a mental work ethic standpoint. He was flawless that walk-through.”
When discussing Lagway’s playing style, Callaway couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. “He’s a natural deep ball passer. He’s obviously a good runner. He’s good at intermediates, good at the quicks,” Callaway said. “His deep ball accuracy is really good. And he’s gotten better at everything.”
Callaway also praised Lagway’s physical attributes: “He’s such a big human, and he’s hard to tackle. He’s liable to throw that defender off and make them miss and then throw it.”
When asked if Lagway might be “too big,” Callaway responded confidently: “I don’t know if you could ever be too big, as long as you can move. I think he’s about what you want. If you were to draw one up, I think he would be the one you draw up.”
As the Gators prepare for the upcoming season, all signs point to Lagway’s minor injury being just a small bump in the road for a quarterback who continues to impress both on and off the field.
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