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GAINESVILLE — Three minutes before 5 p.m. Thursday, hope arrived for the Florida Gators.
Quarterback DJ Lagway completed a pass.
The specifics from the first day of spring practice (a throw right to tight end Hayden Hansen) are irrelevant. So, too, are Lagway’s final numbers (two incompletions — including one drop — in the 18 minutes open to reporters).
The Gators’ most important signee since Tim Tebow is here, running and passing and throwing against air. And if you’re searching for reasons why Billy Napier can eventually bring UF back to glory, start and end with the 6-foot-3, 241-pound freshman in a black No. 2 jersey.
“We all understand that he is talented,” Napier said. “He’s had significant accomplishments. We’re excited that he’s here.”
Judging by the beaming smile on Napier’s face as he talked about Lagway, you can assume the Gators are a little more than excited about their five-star quarterback. With good reason.
Though Lagway was only the No. 7 recruit in the 247Sports composite, he was the most accomplished high school player in the nation: 4,604 passing yards, 957 rushing yards and 74 total touchdowns during his senior year at Texas’ Willis High. That earned him national player of the year honors from Gatorade and MaxPreps, among others.
It also earned him continued recruiting pushes from the likes of USC, Clemson and Texas A&M. After the Gators lost eight blue-chip prospects in the buildup to December’s early signing period, there was some concern that Lagway would be next. Instead, he became UF’s 12th highest-rated signee of the modern recruiting era.
It was the biggest win of Napier’s rocky tenure — one that, perhaps, will lead to more later.
Just not now. Graham Mertz’s 43 career starts make him one of the five most experienced returning quarterbacks in the country,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/dj-lagway-era-begins-bringing-110000009.html
Author : Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Publish date : 2024-03-08 11:00:00
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