Months upon months of anticipation came to a head Wednesday when Willis, Tex. quarterback D.J. Lagway prepared to decide where he would play his college football.
The five-star recruit spurned his father’s alma mater Baylor, along with USC, Clemson and Texas A&M to sign with the Florida Gators. He picked up a blue Gators hat while surrounded by family at Willis High School in a ceremony broadcast to viewers on ESPN2.
Breaking: DJ Lagway commits to the #Gators pic.twitter.com/CsPQXIZ4Kb
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall) December 7, 2022
And Now We Wait…
Lagway does not graduate until 2024, which means the Gators will have to wait until he finishes his senior season of high school before getting a chance to see him suit up in orange and blue. But in the interim, he will be able to further help bolster the team’s 2023 and 2024 classes.
Lagway tweeted at five-star cornerback target Desmond Ricks after he made his decision Wednesday. Ricks visited UF Wednesday.
https://twitter.com/DerekLagway/status/1600630742387654658?s=20&t=YDmm3UohTqwGiFwNdxbFrA
Crown Jewel of 2024
Lagway is considered one of the program’s top recruits ever. Through eight games at Willis in 2022, he passed for 2081 yards to go with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions. He was also prolific on the ground, rushing for 517 yards in 50 attempts and seven touchdowns with a season long carry of 75 yards.
The Willis Wildkats finished 5-5 in 2022. The season ended with a 66-45 loss to Conroe, Tex. Oak Ridge.
It goes without saying, but with Florida looking to compete on the national scale in recruiting and football, DJ Lagway is a monumental landing.
Elite dual-threat quarterback great arm talent and improving accuracy. Exciting young player.
— Brandon Carroll (@itsbcarroll) December 7, 2022
The QB Battle of the Future
Florida flipped four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada from Miami in November. Rashada will join the team next season. He is the 27th ranked prospect in the 2023 ESPN 300.
Rashada himself is a dual-threat quarterback who starred at Pittsburg (CA). He hurled 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to go with 417 rushing yards on 62 carries in 13 games.
Lagway and Rashada will compete for the starting quarterback position in 2024.
PITT!!! @jadenrashada to @zacharycard11 in a TD drive that last just over 30 seconds. 14-8 @PittHSFootball pic.twitter.com/5wLHiGtfEk
— West Coast Preps (@westcoastpreps_) December 4, 2022