Florida Gators sustained a horrific season that finally came to an end with a 7-5 record. Five seasons back, they last scored a 10-win streak, which seems to be extremely far-fetched under Billy Napier’s ball game. However, the Gators still received wins over LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida State. Thanks to their only hope in the despair, DJ Lagway. He suited up and brought some big scores for the team that didn’t even consider availing him until the next season. His immense grit and striking output on the field made him the 14th-best collegiate quarterback this season. But you are partially wrong if you think Lagway is only there to help the Gators score. He is seemingly having some deep impact in the transfer portal as well. But for that, they need to avoid a Lincol-Riley-like slip. Billy Napiers, are you listening?

‘

‘You got DJ Lagway, man. Period, full stop, and that is enough for you to, I believe, spend a check to go after anybody and everybody who can help you in 2025 out there in Gainesville Florida, and the reason why I say that is like you know how many schools how many head coaches would give their left arm and their kicker to have a caliber of quarterback that DJ Lagway is so like that is that is the biggest puzzle piece to that is the hardest piece to get right is the quarterback and you got one in DJ Lagway,” ON3′s JD Pickell said in a eye-opening discussion.

He added that despite having Lagway, the inadequacy of passers on the team restricted the performance. Drawing a comparison to USC, Pickell said, ”

It’s kind of like when you look at USC and Miami, the last couple of seasons with their respective quarterbacks. Caleb Williams at USC two years ago, Cam Ward, this past year, like man, we got a great quarterback; he was a guy that could have won every game for us. However, we didn’t have a defense now. Obviously, you want to avoid that situation as well if you’re in Florida,”

Breaking down how DJ Lagway can still be a huge boost to the portal, he the ON3 journalist continued

, ”A marketable moment to say to recruits in the transfer portal. Hey listen, this is where we’re going, this is who’s leading us there is DJ Lagway. Do you want to come and be a part of it? You’re a receiver, come catch passes from this dude. That’s where I want to start. If I am, Florida, I look at this portal crop of wide receivers. There’s a lot of them, now a lot of big guys and I am, I mean, I’m going after at least two or three.” Pickell laid the formula bare open to Billy Napier.

Despite just being able to showcase his talents for six games in his true freshman season, Lagway took no time in stealing the spotlight. The Gators’ poster boy, as of Nov. 21, racked up a whopping 99.4 deep pass rating on throws beyond 20 yards.

If he didn’t receive a serious blow on his hamstring during the Georgia game, the radar could be higher. However, the only barrier that came between him and his ability to make big plays is seemingly going to bow out if he really influences the 2025 roster makeover, actively or passively.

DJ Lagway is turning the wheel for the Gators behind the scenes 

After a high-flying game against the Seminoles, Lagway said he will certainly be involved in attempting to attract players to the 2025 high school class. The QB phenom noted how critical it is to keep UF’s core strong while pushing to get more skill-position players from the portal.

Billy Napier, on the other side of being labeled as a villain for an 11-14 record in the first two seasons, has been doing a tremendous job on the recruitment front. He pulled in the No. 1. IOL, No. 1 QB, and No. 1 DL in last year’s portal. For the 2025 class, the roster is flooding up already. This is half of Napier’s self-improvement and half of the inevitable DJ Lagway effect at large.

The Gators lost Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger as they reached the end of their eligibility years, and so Lagway and Napier will heavily have their eyes on the skilled WRs on the portal. However, the impact quarterback, at the same time, pays attention to roster retention. He takes some of the O-line players to a dinner to fuel the off-field bonding.

It remains to be seen how many biggies he can attract to the program before a fresh start to 2025.