For DJ Lagway and the Florida Gators, 2025 was supposed to be the season that put them back in the SEC picture. Instead, after a 1-2 start featuring a loss at home to South Florida, followed by one on the road to LSU, Florida looks far from competing for the conference.
The former five-star quarterback isn’t solely responsible for all the Gators’ struggles, but much of it has stemmed from an injured shoulder that has limited his effectiveness. The team’s upcoming schedule doesn’t help either, with three straight top-10 opponents looming. The pressure on head coach Billy Napier continues to mount, and Lagway could be forced into a career-altering decision: redshirting.
That’s the scenario 247Sports’ Bud Elliott floated after Lagway’s disastrous outing against LSU on September 13, when he threw five interceptions.
“If I was DJ, I would redshirt,” Elliott wrote on X. “Doesn’t look right, has immense talent, take a season to get healthy and get right and keep two seasons of eligibility if you need them.”
DJ Lagway Was Dealing With Injuries During the Offseason
Lagway’s rough start didn’t come out of nowhere. His offseason was filled with setbacks that kept him away from full team activities. He underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury from the 2024 season, that included lingering hamstring and groin issues. At the end of July, he added a calf strain to the list.
“There is a thought by some in his camp that the compounding injuries led to compensation in his throwing motion to make it more arm-focused, which could have aggravated the shoulder,” CBS Sports’ Richard Johnson and Chris Hummer reported.
His agent, Deiric Jackson, described the months-long process as an “abnormal” rehab program. The original shoulder injury, which dated back to his high school baseball days, left Lagway unable to throw until late summer. From January through April, he was limited to just handing off the ball to his running backs in practices. He didn’t throw on consecutive days until late August.
DJ Lagway Could Still Redshirt
Florida heads to Miami Gardens on September 20 to face the No. 4 Hurricanes. Last year, Miami rolled 41-17 behind Cam Ward’s opening appearance for The U, while Lagway was thrown into the game after Graham Mertz went down with an injury.
Now, the matchup where it all began for Lagway could be where it all ends.
NCAA rules allow players to appear in up to four games and still retain a redshirt. This upcoming game will be Lagway’s fourth of the season. If he should have another performance like the one against LSU, where he clearly looked off, it could make a redshirt decision a real possibility.
So far this season, Lagway ranks 76th nationally in QBR (53.2). He has thrown for 629 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. For a player touted as one of the nation’s best young stars, the numbers have been underwhelming.
If his shoulder continues to limit him, a redshirt could preserve his long-term potential, even if it comes at the cost of Florida’s season — and perhaps Billy Napier’s job.
Florida’s DJ Lagway Urged to Consider Redshirt After Struggles