Florida Gators fans read the news yesterday that DJ Lagway was in a walking boot, with a collective reaction of "Ah crap, here we go again." The setback is believed to be minor, and by December, this could be an incident we all look back and laugh at, the unsettling panic we feel right now.
But this is also the fourth known issue Lagway has had in the last 365 days. He admitted after the Samford game that he had shoulder discomfort during the 2024 fall camp. He left the game against Georgia and missed the game against Texas after a hamstring injury. He missed spring camp due to his shoulder and possibly a hernia issue. And now this latest issue.
What it all adds up to is that the backup QB for Florida needs to be on standby and could be the deciding factor for the 2025 season.
With that in mind, let's go down the list of who is only one snap away from taking the field in Gainesville.
Aidan Warner
To be fair to Aidan Warner, he was never supposed to actually take the field in 2024. He came to Florida after transferring from Yale but exited spring camp as the 4th string QB at best for the Gators.
But then Graham Mertz got hurt, then Lagway, and somewhere along the way, he passed Clay Millan on the depth chart.
The problem is that Warner's time on the field did not go well. Of the 218 QBs with at least 50 attempts in 2024, Warner had the 3rd worst completion percentage in the country.
Yet this past spring, it was Warner working with the first unit. And if you are keeping score at home, Warner, who got to play with the top receivers against a banged-up Florida secondary, was 10-23 in the Orange and Blue game.
So, while Warner might be a great story and might be doing well behind the scenes, there are a million reasons to be concerned if Warner has to be the QB for an extended time.
Harrison Bailey
After the failed attempt to get Deshawn Purdie to transfer to Gainesville, the Gators were able to pivot quickly and land Harrison Bailey from Louisville.
Bailey started his career at Tennessee and even faced the Gators back in 2020, but he has otherwise been relegated to being a career backup.
But he did have a good showing for Louisville in their bowl game and this past spring, while granted, he was facing the 2nd team defense, he looked poised and solid.
Bailey isn't the type of QB who is going to go out and win you a game by himself, but he feels like he could at least manage a game or two to give the Gators a fighting chance.
Tramell Jones Jr.
The four-star freshman is probably going to redshirt in 2025, but if Lagway winds up missing significant time and Warner and Bailey don't get the job done, there is a pathway to see Jones in 2025.
The Gators were able to flip Jones from FSU back in November. When we profiled Jones, we said:
"There are plenty of positives. He stands tall in the pocket, never feels panicked, and keeps clean mechanics, whether he is throwing a screen or throwing 30+ yards downfield. He is capable of scrambling, though that's not a key component of his game."
Clay Millen
It was like a Scooby Doo mystery trying to figure out what happened to Clay Millen in 2024. He came to Florida from Colorado State, and although he didn't arrive with a ton of fanfare, he at least had competent Division 1 experience.
And even after being the 3rd string QB during the 2024 Orange and Blue Game, Millen got passed by Warner on the depth chart and was never heard from again.
Millen is still hanging around the roster, but it seems like it would require Armegedeon for him ever to touch the field.