GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A most unpleasant week for the UF football team culminated Saturday night with a fresh opportunity to sprint out of the tunnel at "The Swamp."
Based on the mood of the previous seven days, the Gators undoubtedly could have used a hug from Dr. Phil. Meanwhile, some of their fans might have benefited from a relaxing shower and Bon Iver album. And head coach Billy Napier kept extended hours searching for answers to improve his team.
They all found a remedy to their ailments once DJ Lagway broke a sweat on a muggy September evening.
Lagway turned in the most impressive starting debut by a true freshman quarterback in school history in Florida's 45-7 victory over Samford. Lagway, the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year, passed for 456 yards and three touchdowns as the Gators rebounded from their season-opening 24-point loss to Miami. Lagway eclipsed Chris Leak's school record for most yards passing (268 at Kentucky in 2003) by a true freshman in his starting debut by almost 200 yards.
"We gave them a little bit more to cheer about this week,'' Napier said. "That's a good step in the right direction. And obviously, DJ Lagway had a phenomenal night."
Lagway started in place of sixth-year senior Graham Mertz after Mertz suffered a concussion in the opener. He delivered a memorable performance and, more importantly, helped the Gators earn a much-needed win before they open Southeastern Conference play at home next week against Texas A&M.
Samford's defense won't be mistaken for the '85 Bears or some of Alabama's defenses under Nick Saban, but that doesn't make Lagway's performance any less impressive. He finished 18 of 25 and added 16 yards on five carries to help the Gators snap a six-game losing streak.
As Lagway waited to run onto Florida Field for his starting debut, he said he was nervous. You would have never known by watching him play.
"I was just locked into the task at hand,'' he said. "My coach is telling me one play at a time. That's what it is, just executing one play at a time. My coaches have been hard on me since day one. That's what I love about Coach Napier and his staff. They're going to coach me hard and make sure I'm getting better each and every day."
Lagway debuted in the opener when he replaced Mertz in the fourth quarter and went 3 of 6 for 31 yards and an interception. He led the Gators on a scoring drive after being uncertain whether he would play because of a shoulder injury.
"He's been battling. His arm has not necessarily been a 100 percent the last couple of weeks," Napier said. "He's been banged up a little bit. I think he finally, kind of [by the] end of the week this week, was healthy. You saw that tonight."
The Gators came up empty on their opening drive when Lagway lined up wide on fourth-and-1 from Samford's 17-yard line, and tailback Treyaun Webb was stopped short of a first down after taking a direct snap.
Lagway showed off his arm on the next drive when he connected with receiver Elijhah Badger for a 77-yard gain that moved the Gators to Samford's 4. Two plays later, Montrell Johnson Jr. scored on a 1-yard run. Lagway connected with Chimere Dike for a 44-yard gain on Florida's next possession, but the drive ended when freshman running back Jadan Baugh fumbled into the end zone and Samford recovered for a touchback. On the opening play of Florida's next drive, Lagway connected with tight end Hayden Hansen for a 40-yard pass. He later hit Badger for 22 yards, and on the next play, Johnson scored on a 7-yard run for a 14-0 Gators lead.
Lagway was just getting started after going 8 of 11 for 209 yards in the first half.
"It's impressive,'' Napier said. "I think the vertical passing game … I mean, these are accurate, right in stride. He's got that in him."
Lagway had his first career touchdown pass in him on the opening drive of the second half when he connected with fellow freshman Tank Hawkins for a 36-yard score and a 21-0 Gators lead.
"That's one of my best friends here,'' Lagway said. "So, it was a real moment to get our first touchdown together."
Following a 12-play, 75-yard Sanford scoring drive that cut Florida's lead to 21-7, the Gators quickly responded with Lagway directing a four-play 75-yard drive that ended with arguably his best throw of the night, a 41-yard strike into the right corner of the end zone to Aidan Mizell.
Receiver Eugene Wilson III was open on the play and watched as Lagway shuffled to his left, moved up in the pocket to avoid the rush, and then uncorked a dart that hit Mizell in stride with Bulldogs cornerback Xavier Lanier helpless to make a play on the perfectly thrown pass.
"He was out there playing backyard ball,'' Wilson said. "That ball to Mizell, that jump was crazy because he, like, stepped up and, to be honest, I was wide-open on the play. He just scrambled up, flicked it up like he knew it was headed down there somewhere, and he just stood right there in the pocket. That play was unbelievable."
Lagway's final touchdown toss was an 85-yarder to Wilson that was his longest (and easiest) of the night. Wilson came around on a jet sweep, taking a forward underhand toss from Lagway and then slicing through the Samford defense on the way to the end zone.
Lagway's debut highlighted a 632-yard offensive outburst for the Gators after they managed only 261 yards in the 41-17 loss to the Hurricanes. Johnson rushed for 67 yards and two scores, Hawkins and Mizell caught their first career touchdowns, and Wilson finished with a team-high six receptions, 141 yards and a touchdown.
Afterward, Napier addressed whether Lagway would remain the starter or give way to Mertz when Mertz clears the final hurdle of the concussion protocol.
"Our intentions are the same,'' Napier said. "We intend to play him every week. I think we intended to do that last week as well. But he brings a different element to our team. There's no question he'll be part of every plan going forward."
The Gators needed a win and a feel-good moment to help flush the humiliating loss to Miami from their minds.
Lagway answered the call, far from his Willis, Texas, home where the Gators found him. He said the opportunity to play against the Hurricanes helped him settle in for Saturday night's coming-out party.
"That definitely helped with my confidence,'' he said. "I just wanted to feel how it felt to get tackled in college and just see how it is on the field with like the crowd noise, 90,000 in the stands. I never had that in high school."
The Gators had never had such a productive starting debut from a true freshman quarterback until Saturday night.
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