GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway will open fall camp in the identical spot he spent spring observe — watching from the sidelines.
Lagway is coping with a calf pressure and sporting a strolling boot, and coach Billy Napier supplied no timetable on his star participant’s return. It is the equity damage difficulty for the extremely touted sophomore who missed spring with a shoulder damage after present process sports activities hernia surgical procedure.
“It isn’t perfect,” Napier mentioned Wednesday. “Within the good world, he can be good each day of the offseason. I believe the great factor is his angle towards it. I believe that is a optimistic. … He is in 12 months 2, I believe he understands what’s required to be prepared. It isn’t perfect, however I believe finally we’ll give you one of the best plan we will to have him prepared.”
The Gators open coaching camp Wednesday. And Napier, not like in earlier years, closed viewing durations to media for the primary three days.
Lagway, who went 6-1 in seven begins as a freshman in 2024, is broadly thought-about a Heisman Trophy contender heading into this season. However he is barely been on the sphere at a time when he might be making important strides.
He was restricted throughout spring observe due to a proper shoulder damage that would ultimately want surgical procedure. He resumed throwing in late April and mentioned earlier this month at Southeastern Convention media days he would totally take part in camp.
However then he strained a calf muscle final week.
“Accidents are one of many horrible issues in regards to the career and definitely for him being a 12 months 2 participant and a extremely motivated and hungry man,” Napier mentioned. “I believe he is achieved a great job staying related. I believe he nonetheless has a voice as a pacesetter. He is nonetheless strolling the halls. He is nonetheless in a position to be a think about that regard.
“However he is nonetheless a really younger participant and desires these reps for improvement as properly. When he will get again, he’ll be simply tremendous. He is had a fantastic angle towards it, and we have got to assist him handle expectations a bit bit as properly.”
Lagway accomplished 60% of his passes for 1,915 yards, with 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 2024. He took over the beginning function after Graham Mertz tore a knee ligament at Tennessee in October.
With out Lagway now, journeyman Harrison Bailey is predicted to get many of the first-team snaps. Bailey performed at Tennessee, UNLV and Louisville earlier than transferring to Florida earlier this yr.
For Lagway, the calf damage is the equity in a rising record of setbacks during the last three years. The Willis, Texas, native injured his proper foot in the course of the Below Armour All-American Sport in January 2024 and missed components of coaching camp final fall due to shoulder soreness.
Lagway additionally strained his left hamstring towards Georgia final yr and missed the next week’s recreation at Texas. He returned down the stretch and helped the Gators win their closing 4 video games.
“The sky is the restrict for that child,” teammate and defensive finish Tyreak Sapp mentioned. “That child isn’t just blessed with quite a lot of means; the child is expert. He practices what he preaches, and he is available in on a regular basis and works laborious, no matter what it’s. … It will be tremendous thrilling to see what he does.
“I believe these (accidents) occur. Clearly, it is unlucky. We do our greatest to maintain DJ wholesome and preserve DJ going. I do know DJ’s going to have the ability to present out and be himself — and be one of the best model of himself.”