Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway’s calf injury is one of the last things head coach Billy Napier needs heading into a crucial fourth season in Gainesville.
On Tuesday, Napier divulged that Lagway, in line to take over as the team’s full-time starting quarterback, has a strained calf, and it’s unclear when he’ll be healthy enough to return to action.
Last season, Lagway, a five-star prospect and the No. 3 national recruit in the 2024 class, appeared in 12 of 13 games as a freshman with seven starts.
He guided Florida to home wins over LSU and Ole Miss, knocking both firmly out of the College Football Playoff conversation, and pushed Georgia for four quarters, with the Gators tying the game (an eventual 34-20 loss) at 20 midway through the fourth.
When discussing Lagway’s latest injury — the Associated Press also noted a shoulder injury kept him out of spring practices — Napier was blunt, telling reporters, “It’s not ideal.”
“He’s in Year 2. I think he understands what’s required to be ready. It’s not ideal, but I think ultimately we’ll come up with the best plan we can to have him ready,” Napier added.
“But he’s still a very young player and needs these reps for his development,” he continued.
Lagway completed 59.9% of his pass attempts last season, throwing for 1,915 yards (10 yards per attempt), 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Florida begins its 2025 season with what should be an easy win regardless of who’s quarterback when it hosts FCS Long Island University in Week 1.
But the Gators’ schedule quickly ramps up from there. They play South Florida, which has the third-best odds to win the American Conference this season, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Florida’s following two games are on the road against LSU and Miami.
Florida had built up plenty of positive momentum by winning its final four games last season, its third under Napier, who is 19-19 overall with the program.
Despite his mediocre record, athletic director Scott Stricklin backed Napier in a statement last November. Florida originally hired Napier in December 2021 to a seven-year deal worth $51.8M that runs through the 2028 season.
Napier could use a strong season to keep critics from grabbing their pitchforks, but Lagway’s injury could keep that from happening.
