Lagway, top-dual threat QB for '24, picks Gators

D.J. Lagway, the No. 12 wide imaginable successful the 2024 ESPN 300 and the cycle's apical dual-threat quarterback, committed to the Florida Gators connected Wednesday.

Lagway, who made his announcement connected ESPN's "CFB Live," besides considered Baylor, Texas A&M, USC and Clemson.

"I emotion what Coach [Billy] Napier and the unit is doing implicit there," Lagway told ESPN. "I consciousness similar they're going to physique thing peculiar and I privation to decidedly physique thing determination and conscionable beryllium the stomping grounds of thing new."

Lagway, a merchandise of Willis High School (Texas), is the Gators' apical enlistee for the 2024 rhythm and their 3rd ESPN 300 pledge pursuing commitments from linebacker Myles Graham (No. 53) and moving backmost Chauncey Bowens (No. 191).

He's the 2nd high-profile backmost imaginable to articulation the fold successful Gainesville, pursuing Pittsburg High School's (California) Jaden Rashada (No. 27 wide successful 2023, No. 2 QB-DT), who flipped from Miami connected Nov. 10.

Sophomore Anthony Richardson's determination to participate the 2023 NFL draught positive the dismissal of backup Jalen Kitna following his arrest puts the additions of Rashada and Lagway into a antithetic grade of importance.

"The class, it doesn't truly substance who is successful the QB room," Lagway said. "You got to vie everyplace you go. So I'm excited."

Napier went 6-6 successful his archetypal play with the Gators -- highlighted by an 29-26 upset of eventual Pac-12 champion Utah successful the play opener -- with the Las Vegas Bowl against No. 14 Oregon State upcoming connected Dec. 17. Florida's 2023 people is presently ranked No. 8 by ESPN, bolstered by 16 ESPN 300 pledges.

"The household ambiance that the coaching unit brings," Lagway said astir wherefore Florida stood out. "Like everything. Everybody's conscionable truthful bully and truthful welcoming. And I decidedly consciousness I tin get developed by Coach Napier. He has 1 of the champion systems I've seen and learned."

Lagway, constricted to 8 games due to the fact that of a precocious ankle sprain, completed 67% of his passes for 2,080 yards with 24 touchdowns and 5 interceptions arsenic a inferior for Willis this season. He besides rushed for 517 yards and 7 touchdowns.

"My crippled tin amended [by] conscionable making the crippled determination slower," Lagway said. "More slower than it has [been], marque definite I'm competing astatine my level astatine each times and not dropping levels, down levels, similar the contention I'm playing sometimes. Just ever marque definite I'm connected apical of my reads, connected apical of my blitz checks and each that bully stuff. Make definite I'm a implicit quarterback."