![Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) gets sacked Tennessee defensive lineman Tyre West (42) and coughs up the ball during the second half of an NCAA football game against Tennessee at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Florida lost to Tennessee 31-11[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2748,h_1545/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01kardy30041w6qxk5kr.jpg "Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) gets sacked Tennessee defensive lineman Tyre West (42) and coughs up the ball during the second half of an NCAA football game against Tennessee at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Florida lost to Tennessee 31-11[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
As much as we have tried to place the bulk of the blame for the 2025 Florida Gators on Billy Napier, and he deserves the bulk of the blame, we would be remiss if we didn't toss our critiques towards DJ Lagway. The Gators are shaping up to have their worst season since 1979, and before that, one would have to go back to the 1950s to find a season that comes close to 2025.
One could argue that, once upon a time, it was unfair to toss public criticism towards college players who were just on a meal plan and a scholarship.
But given how money Florida fans have been asked to donate in NIL to keep players like Lagway around, he can't hide from the blame either.
DJ Lagway claims he isn't going anywhere
The real concern for Lagway this season isn't just his lack of growth compared to his freshman season; it's the outright regression.
Napier's offense didn't help matters, and we stated throughout the front half of the season that some of Lagway's issues were a byproduct of having to run an offense that looked like it was from Ask Madden.
He was hurt with a shoulder issue all offseason, but that doesn't seem to fully explain why his footwork continues to look like a U13 7-on-7 QB while simultaneously reading the field like one too.
His stat line wasn't the worst in the world: 11 for 17 for 116 yards and one touchdown. Most importantly, he threw no interceptions and had a QB rating that was above his season average.
Once again, on Saturday, there were throws to be made that maybe, just maybe, could have changed Florida's fate. But once again, Lagway's footwork let him down and led to passes getting sailed.
Lagway told reporters after the game that he doesn't intend to go anywhere after the season. And if Florida lands the right coach ahead of the 2026 campaign, the issues that have ailed Lagway might just get fixed.
But given how much money has been invested in Lagway by sponsors and fans, expect the noise around Lagway specifically to grow this offseason.