What was supposed to be DJ Lagway’s breakout season has instead become one of the biggest storylines in college football for all the wrong reasons.
Sports Illustrated listed the Florida football quarterback among its 12 most disappointing players at the midway point of the 2025 season.
Advertisement
SI’s Dan Lyons noted that Lagway’s expected sophomore leap was a major reason Billy Napier returned as Florida’s head coach this year. But despite moments of progress, Lagway hasn’t delivered the consistency many hoped for.
While Lagway’s completion percentage has improved, almost every other metric has trended in the wrong direction. His touchdown rate is down, he has seven interceptions (two away from matching his total last season) and his quarterback rating has dipped 25 points (129.9) compared to his freshman season (154.9).
The back half of the season now becomes an opportunity for Lagway to prove why he’s still capable of being one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
Here is everything Lyons said about Lagway midway through the season.
Advertisement
What SI said about Lagway
“DJ Lagway’s anticipated sophomore leap was a major justification for Billy Napier keeping his job in 2025. The Gators took a step forward late in the year, with Lagway showing off his truly prodigious arm talent.
“Lagway dealt with injuries throughout the offseason, and while he’s completing a higher rate of passes this season, his touchdown rate has dropped, he’s still throwing too many interceptions (with his five picks costing Florida a chance to upset LSU) and his average yards per attempt has tanked from 10 in 2024 to a middling 6.6 in ’25.
“Lagway has really struggled throwing the deep ball, something that should set him apart, completing just six of 19 throws over 20 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions, per Pro Football Focus.“
Advertisement
SI’s 12 most disappointing college football players
-
WR Nic Anderson (LSU Tigers)
-
QB Mark Gronowski (Iowa Hawkeyes)
-
RB Makhi Hughes (Oregon Ducks)
-
QB Avery Johnson (Kansas State Wildcats)
-
QB Cade Klubnik (Clemson Tigers)
-
QB Gio Lopez (North Carolina Tar Heels)
-
QB Arch Manning (Texas Longhorns)
-
QB Garrett Nussmeier (LSU Tigers)
-
DL Jehiem Oatis (Colorado Buffaloes)
-
RB Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma Sooners)
-
WR Ryan Williams (Alabama Crimson Tide)
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football’s DJ Lagway named among CFB’s biggest disappointments
