“When DJ’s able to run…” In his Monday press conference following Florida’s loss to Texas A&M, Billy Napier might have given away too much information that now leaves Florida fans asking if DJ Lagway should be behind the pocket for the Gators.
When Napier was talking about playing in a four or five-wide receiver set, Napier said it was to create “variables in the run game.” He stated that Lagway, who was in a walking boot for supposedly precautionary reasons, has an “inability to run to the ball.” With that, you run with a more spread-out offense with gaps created and living in the RPO game. Everything is vertical run or perimeter attacks.
Napier said, “when he can run, then you’re opening up another scenario where you can create plus-one plays,” said Napier. “Him being limited in that capacity causes you to have to live in that world.”
Did Napier just give away the fact that he has a limited quarterback playing in the pocket with Florida facing one of their worst seasons in history? From the sound of the press conference, it would make the question that was brought up about giving the third and fourth string guys more reps that much more power of actually being a good question to put some quarterback run plays together while Lagway is unable to use his legs.
So far in 2025 Lagway has 29 carries that have resulted in a very unacceptable four rushing yards. He averages just 0.1 yard per carry and his longest rush of the year is just 10 yards.
Meanwhile, Florida has a run weapon on the bench watching Florida tank. Backup quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. has five carries for 14 yards, way more than Lagway's four yards. He’s averaging 2.8 yards (compared to Lagway's 0.1 yards) per carry with a long carry of nine yards.
Instead of giving away that you have a quarterback who can’t run, why not use the weapon you have on the bench every so often and run the ball? It’s not uncommon for Florida to use their starter and first backup in the same game, so why not this year?
Napier’s comments of Lagway’s inability to run now leave Florida fans scratching their heads even more and just waiting for the day when the news of Napier’s firing isn’t fake, but real. It appears that Napier isn’t putting the best players on the field for plays they could thrive in. Because if he was, Lagway and Tramell Jones Jr. would both be seeing playing times so their strengths can show through and give Florida a chance to win, something they’ve only had a handful of times in the first six games of the season.