DJ Lagway explains how Florida used disrespect to save Billy Napier’s job
Florida head coach Billy Napier was coaching for his job last season. His first two seasons in Gainesville saw the Gators go 11-14 and Florida was 4-5 heading into mid-November of 2024.
There was a very real idea floating around Gainesville that Napier wasn’t going to make it, especially with Mario Cristobal quickly turning things around down south at Miami.
Almost inexplicably, though, the Gators started turning it around. They beat No. 22 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss and Florida State to finish the season on a three-game winning streak. Florida then went on to beat Tulane, 33-8, in a bowl game.
It was a strong end to 2024 for Florida. Very strong, in fact.
Recently speaking with college football legend Robert Griffin III on the “Outta Pocket” Podcast, soon-to-be second-year quarterback DJ Lagway explained that the Gators were fueled by the disrespect shown to them and their head coach for much of the season.
“That was definitely motivation because I feel like they were disrespecting our coach and disrespecting us, genuinely,” Lagway said (h/t 247Sports). “So we had to go out there and show them what we had. Obviously, it took some bumps in the roads, a lot of ups and downs this year. But I feel like, at the end, we kind of pulled it all together and figured it out. Hopefully, we can put that momentum to the 2025 season.”
The Gators do now have a ton of momentum and Lagway is a big reason why. He’s a former five-star recruit and was ranked as the No. 1 overall quarterback in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports.
Lagway played in 12 games with seven starts as a freshman and the Gators were 6-1 with him under center. He’s looking to take several steps forward in 2025 as the undisputed top quarterback in Gainesville.
“My mindset really is to just keep stacking days and getting better. Just improving my mechanics, my in-the-pocket awareness, my coverage recognition, protection recognition. Just knowing the ins and outs of the formations, the plays and all that. And just taking another deep dive in the offense. It’s Year 2 in it. I’m just excited for that. It’ll be really good,” Lagway said.
