Lagway labels his potential October return to Kyle Field as 'exciting'

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ATLANTA — Seconds after Texas A&M kicker Seth Small’s last-play field goal curved inside the left upright to clinch a football victory over No. 1 Alabama, thousands of fans poured onto the field in celebration.

Among the revelers at Kyle Field that night in 2021 was a high school sophomore who drove 60 miles from Willis, Texas, to attend the game. Three years later, that kid — DJ Lagway‍ — would be the nation’s top-ranked quarterback prospect.

That night, it appeared Lagway might be destined to play at Texas A&M. Alas, appearances could be deceiving. Instead, the twists and turns of the recruiting process led Lagway to Florida.

Surrounded by a large gaggle of reporters, Lagway recalled that process and those twists and turns on Tuesday at Southeastern Conference Media Days.

“During the recruiting process, your head is everywhere,” Lagway said. “A&M was my first SEC offer. Coach (Darrell) Dickey offered me. I loved the campus. It’s close to home. But once Florida got involved, it was kind of like, ‘Nah, I know where I want to go.’ At the end of the day, when Florida got involved, that’s where I spent most of my time.”

Theories abound as to why A&M couldn’t land Lagway. Perhaps then-coach Jimbo Fisher mishandled the recruitment. Maybe the presence of then-quarterback Conner Weigman was an obstacle.

Or maybe Lagway just felt more comfortable in Gainesville.

When Mike Elko was named A&M’s coach in late November of 2023, he made a run at Lagway. But by then, the decision had already been made.

“A&M was in the picture early and often,” Lagway said. “And then I was committed to Florida. At the end, they kind of tried to swing back in when coach Elko got there. Coach Elko is doing an amazing job over there. Good luck to those guys.”

Unfortunately, Lagway hasn’t had a lot of luck. He dealt with a shoulder injury and a pulled hamstring in his first collegiate season. He wasn’t able to throw during spring football.

“I don’t have a prosthetic arm, just so you know that,” Lagway joked. “I’m feeling great. Training has been amazing. I’ve been working.

“I’m actually getting better at things. I’m not just trying to get back to throwing the ball. I’ve been working on mechanics that are going to help my accuracy this year, help my decision-making.”

Despite the injury issues, Lagway still led Florida to season-closing victories over LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane. In the process, he probably saved coach Billy Napier’s job.

Lagway scratched the surface of his enormous potential. He finished with 1,915 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.

He also rushed for 101 yards but surprisingly — perhaps shockingly — did not reach the end zone.

Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Against Texas A&M, DJ Lagway completed just six of his 13 passes, throwing for onlu 54 yards. 

“Last year was my first year never scoring a rushing touchdown ever in my life,” he said. “So I’m excited to definitely get back to running the ball and making plays like that.”

More is expected this season. Much more. Some already call him a Heisman Trophy contender.

If he is, Florida could be a playoff team.

“I definitely think we’re a playoff team,” he said. “We just have to go out there and play ball and prove it to ourselves.”

A big opportunity to provide the burden of proof will come on Oct. 11 when Lagway returns to Kyle Field to face A&M.

Last season, he was upstaged by A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, who made his first career start. Reed passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 33-20 Aggies victory.

This year’s matchup will likely go a long way in defining the seasons of both teams. It may also determine whether Lagway — or perhaps Reed — is indeed a Heisman contender.

“That’s going to be exciting,” Lagway said. “I’ve got a lot of friends, a lot of family, a lot of teachers and high school coaches that’s going to be at that game. It’s definitely going to be sort of a homecoming for me.”

It’ll be exciting for Aggies, too. They just don’t want Lagway to celebrate on Kyle Field again.