After recovering from a shoulder damage that restricted him throughout spring observe, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is now coping with a decrease physique damage that is required a strolling boot forward of the Gators’ fall camp, sources confirmed to CBS Sports activities’ Richard Johnson.
The severity of Lagway’s damage continues to be unknown, as is a timetable for his return to motion. Florida was trying ahead to getting its former five-star prospect again on the sphere in preseason camp after he was unable to throw passes in spring observe on account of his shoulder ailment.
Including to his record of bumps and bruises was one other undisclosed decrease physique damage, which was apparently addressed earlier this offseason. At SEC Media Days, Lagway referred to it as one of many “[nooks] and crannies, little issues that was lingering throughout the season.”
Maybe this head of state damage is a minor one and Lagway is again on the sphere nicely prematurely of Florida’s Week 1 sport in opposition to Lengthy Island. The Gators might go as Lagway goes this fall; a wholesome model may make them a darkhorse contender to reach the SEC Championship Game.
Final season, Lagway stepped into motion after starter Graham Mertz went down with damage. There have been some ups and downs — he accomplished beneath 60% of his passes and had 9 picks to 12 landing passes — however the highs have been particularly excessive for one of many prime gamers from the 2024 signing class. Coming into the 2025 season, Lagway is anticipated to make a leap and regarded a potential Heisman contender with +2500 odds to win the award at FanDuel.
If Lagway does miss important time, the outlook will get bleaker for Florida. Most certainly, Louisville switch Harrison Bailey and Yale switch Aidan Warner would battle it out for the beginning function.
Bailey, who additionally performed at Tennessee and UNLV, has but to win and maintain a beginning job via 5 seasons in college football. He has tried simply 171 passes in that point.
Warner is the one quarterback on the roster, outdoors of Lagway, who threw a move for the Gators final season. With Lagway and Mertz each out for Florida’s sport in opposition to Texas, Warner bought the beginning in a 49-17 loss. He accomplished 12 of 25 passing makes an attempt for 132 yards and two interceptions.
With video games in opposition to LIU and USF within the first couple weeks, Florida may afford to carry Lagway out or give him a ramp-up interval. Past that, the Gators should navigate a gauntlet that features street video games in opposition to LSU, Miami and Texas A&M with a house sport in opposition to Texas within the span of 5 weeks.