Florida Gators QB DJ Lagway named 2023-24 Gatorade National Player of the Year

Football

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Image Credit: DJ Lagway / Twitter

Five-star quarterback DJ Lagway (Willis, TX), set to begin his career with the Florida Gators next week, has been named the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year for football. He is the third Florida signee to earn one of high school football’s highest honors, joining John Brantley (2006-07) and Emmitt Smith (1986-87).

Lagway (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) will join the Gators as the fourth-ranked prospect in the nation, according to 247Sports. As a senior at Willis High School, he set the Texas Class 6A single-season record for touchdown passes (59) while completing 72.1% of his passes for 4,605 yards with only eight interceptions. He also ran for 953 yards and 16 more touchdowns as a dual-threat passer.

Smith surprised Lagway with the trophy this week, cementing his place in high school football history. Lagway beat out two other quarterbacks, Alabama signee Julian Sayin and USC commitment Julian Lewis (a sophomore), for the award.

Lagway has been a standout during practices for the 2024 Under Armour All-American Game, which he was projected to start. However, he injured his foot during Wednesday’s practice and is now not expected to see the field. The injury is not believed to be serious.

What role he will play for Florida in 2024 remains to be seen. It is likely that head coach Billy Napier will give Lagway a package of plays he can run throughout the season in place of redshirt senior Graham Mertz, similar to how Tim Tebow used to take a handful of snaps during games for Chris Leak back during the 2006 season.