Swampcast discusses how Florida football recruiting 2026 class is shaping up so far
The Sun’s Kevin Brockway and Noah Ram talk about Florida football recruiting with Nick Wilson of the USA Today Gannett Florida Network.
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway will be featured on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26.Lagway is recovering from shoulder and lower body injuries and has begun a throwing program.The sophomore quarterback went 6-1 as a starter last season, passing for 1,915 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Florida football sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway is making progress throwing the football this offseason and has taken another step in enhancing his growing brand.
Lagway will appear on the deluxe edition cover of the EA Sports College Football 26 video game, which will launch worldwide on July 10. On the cover, Lagway stands amongst a collage of current and former college football stars, including Florida Gators icon Tim Tebow, who stood next to him.
“It’s truly a blessing to be on a game I played my whole life, and just seeing all the greats that have been on the game,” Lagway said in an interview with the Gainesville Sun. “You know, hopefully continue that tradition.”
The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Lagway, who was the 2023 Gatorade High School National Player of the Year, went 6-1 as a starter last year for UF, passing for 1,915 yards with 12 TDs and nine interceptions.
Lagway said he doesn’t believe in cover jinxes, pointing out that former Colorado star and current Jackson’s Jaguar Travis Hunter was on last year’s EA Sports College Football 25 cover.
“The last Heisman winner was on the cover, so hopefully …,” Lagway said.
As the nation’s top quarterback recruit in 2023 out of Willis, Texas, Lagway has already been able to leverage his celebrity status in the Name, Image and Likeness era of college sports, signing deals with Gatorade, Nintendo, Epic Games and Leaf Trading Cards. Last March, Lagway launched a charitable foundation and made a six-figure donation toward UF’s women’s sports programs.
“Whenever you get a chance to put yourself on a national spotlight it’s always good,” Lagway said. “And to be able to represent the University of Florida and be able to have that Gator logo on is something that’s truly a blessing.”
How Florida football quarterback DJ Lagway is progressing this offseason
After not throwing during spring drills, Lagway has taken part in a throwing program of more than 200 passes per week during UF’s organized team activities this summer.
“I’m feeling great,” Lagway said. “I’m feeling good just trying to get the timing down with the receivers. Offseason has been great so far and I’m just thankful for the process. I’m just thankful for everything that’s been going on.”
Lagway admitted it was tough not being able to throw last spring. Florida took a cautious approach with its star quarterback after he dealt with lingering shoulder and lower body issues from his freshman season. Lagway suffered a hamstring injury during the first half of UF’s 34-20 loss against rival Georgia last Nov. 2, which forced him to sit out the following game on Nov. 9 at Texas.
“It was definitely hard not be able to be out there with the guys, and go out there and sweat with him, and just make plays with those guys,” Lagway said. “But it definitely taught me a lot just learning how to be in the present moment with those guys, just enjoy every little thing.”
The mental reps for Lagway also were valuable during the spring, but OTAs have allowed him to continue to develop timing with new receivers such as UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant and incoming freshmen Dallas Wilson, Vernell Brown III and Naeshaun Montgomery. Wilson stood out in UF’s spring game, catching 10 passes for 195 yards and 2 TDs,
“All the new guys are trying to figure out the offense still and doing great,” Lagway said. “They’ve picked up on it quick and you know they are going to be a tremendous help to us this year and I’m excited for them.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com