GAINESVILLE — As spring drills dawn at the University of Florida, the Gators’ most electrifying player will be limited mainly to mental reps instead of mesmerizing ones.
Gators coach Billy Napier, who presided over his first team practice of the spring late Thursday afternoon, announced earlier in the day his staff will take a cautious approach with sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway as he tends to shoulder and lower-body issues that afflicted him down the stretch last fall.
Lagway was suited up but didn’t throw during the brief practice window open to reporters. Instead, he simulated taking snaps and practiced his dropbacks as other quarterbacks threw to receivers.
“I think our intentions here are to be very smart,” Napier said.
Lagway, thrust into the starting job last October when veteran Graham Mertz tore his ACL, sustained a hamstring injury midway through a Nov. 2 game against Georgia that forced him to miss the ensuing week’s contest at Texas. He returned and led the Gators on a surreal four-game win streak to end the season that included home upsets of ranked teams LSU and Ole Miss.
“I do think he’ll be limited to throwing activities, but he’ll participate in all practices otherwise,” Napier added. “And we’ve done a lot of homework here relative to the things that he went through as a player.”
Meantime, Napier said, redshirt sophomore receiver Tre Wilson, a Gaither High alumnus whose dazzling freshman year was followed by an injury-besieged 2024 season that included a knee surgery and an ensuing procedure to correct a genetic hip issue, will be able to do “almost everything” this spring.
Wilson participated in pass-catching drills with the other receivers during the open practice window.
“I think we’re managing volume right now and return-to-play more than anything,” Napier added….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/dj-lagway-limited-tre-wilson-184900095.html
Author : Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Publish date : 2025-03-06 18:49:00
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