Eight wins. Not bad, right? But in Florida, especially in the SEC, that’s just average. Last season, the Gators’ quarterback situation was a nightmare. Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway both went down with injuries, forcing Florida to dig deep into their depth chart—even throwing walk-on Aidan Warner into the fire. And as if that wasn’t enough, whispers about Billy Napier’s massive $27.1 million buyout only fueled the drama. But 2025? That could be a whole different ballgame. Yeah, the schedule is brutal, but the roster is loaded with talent, and Florida is still right in the thick of SEC competition. And this time around, it’s not just about the quarterback position. Something else is brewing in Gainesville—something that could change Napier’s luck.

DJ Lagway had a promising start last year before suffering a devastating hamstring injury in November during a crucial showdown against Georgia. The rising star had stepped in for the injured senior Graham Mertz and led the Gators to a 6-1 record in seven games, securing a bowl game berth. But just as momentum was building, Lagway was carted off the field, missing the remainder of that game and the next. Florida’s offense struggled without him, and their season lost its spark. Now, with spring ball underway, things are starting to turn around for Billy Napier—and the latest intel from Gainesville suggests a major reason why.

On the March 14th episode of On3 with J.D. PicKell, the discussion focused on Florida’s spring practice, and PicKell revealed something significant: “The most interesting piece of intel that I’ve heard so far out of Florida spring practice is they feel really good about their wide receiver room. So good, in fact, that what I have been told is they don’t think they’re probably going to go to the transfer portal post-spring practice to go get another weapon.” That’s a bold statement and a strong sign of confidence in Florida’s current roster.

If Florida’s receiver group is as good as the buzz suggests, Napier may have found a key piece in his rebuild. The Gators’ 2025 recruiting class brought in serious talent, including 6’3″ UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant. On top of that, they landed 4-star cornerback Ben Hanks III, 5-star receiver Vernell Brown III, and 4-star wideout Dallas Wilson. Wilson, though not the highest-rated recruit in the class, is already making waves at spring practice.

Wilson, a standout from Tampa Bay Tech, was ranked 3rd among Florida’s 2025 commits, 5th in the state, and 8th among all receivers per On3. His path to Gainesville wasn’t straightforward—he initially committed to Oregon in early 2023 before flipping to the Gators last December. His decision to stay home could pay huge dividends for Florida’s offense.

After losing Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger to the NFL, Florida wasted no time reloading. The addition of Sturdivant, a 6’3″, 205-pound playmaker with size and speed, is a game-changer. Last season, he caught 22 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns at UCLA. Now, he’s set to be a key target for freshman QB DJ Lagway, making PicKell’s claim about Florida’s stacked WR room even more compelling.

But while the receiver room looks solid, there’s one big concern—Lagway’s health. On3’s J.D. PicKell addressed it, saying, “Now, they’re dealing with a lot of injuries, most notably DJ Lagway. Being really careful with him this spring, not really throwing the football as of right now. Shoulder dinged up, lower body dinged up, and this is a huge bummer for spring practice.” With their star quarterback nursing injuries, Florida will have to be cautious as they gear up for the season ahead.

If Lagway can get healthy and Florida’s wideouts live up to the hype, the Gators could be in for a turnaround season. And for Billy Napier, that could mean the difference between proving his doubters wrong or finding himself on the hot seat once again.

DJ Lagway’s injury status

Billy Napier faced the harsh truth—his 19-year-old QB is dealing with both a throwing shoulder injury and a hamstring issue. But the Gators’ HC made it clear they’re handling Lagway with caution, saying, “I think our intentions here are to be very smart. I do think he’ll be limited in throwing activities, but he’ll participate in all practices otherwise.” Safe to say, Napier knows the importance of protecting his young star, ensuring he’s ready when it matters most.

On Thursday’s episode of 247Sports, Cooper Petagna and Smoke Dixon discussed Lagway’s condition. And Petagna noted, “A shorter injury, like I said, a lower extremity is as well. He’s in limbo, right? And if any part of the engine starts to break down a little bit, everything else around him could fall.”

Meanwhile, Smoke Dixon raised a curious point, suggesting that even Napier’s staff might be in the dark about DJ Lagway’s injury status. He further added to the concerns, “You know there’s a lot of things that he needs to change mechanically with his upper body. With his lower body going from his toes to his fingertips, and understanding how to throw the b— with his lower body.” But the good news for Gators fans?

DJ Lagway’s injury won’t require surgery. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Florida is taking a cautious approach, focusing on his full recovery. As of now, with spring ball still underway, the priority is getting Lagway back to 100% for the season ahead.