Gators DJ Lagway aims to bounce back at Ole Miss with Lane Kiffin watching
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GAINESVILLE — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway looked lost, alone and at a crossroads on the Gators’ sideline in a blowout loss at Kentucky.
Lagway was benched for the first time in career during another multi-interception night, continuing a sophomore slump while casting further doubt on his future at UF.
When the reeling Gators (3-6, 2-4 SEC) visit No. 7 Ole Miss (9-1, 5-1) Saturday night, Lagway will strive to bounce back from another disappointing performance, find some confidence and impress Rebels coach Lane Kiffin — just in case.
The offensive-minded Kiffin will be looking for a quarterback to run his high-octane attack if he becomes Florida’s next head coach. He liked what he saw last season from Lagway, who led the Gators past the Rebels 24-17 last November in the Swamp.
But Kiffin doesn’t see the quarterback who attacked Ole Miss with a strong arm and self-assured disposition. Instead, he suggested Lagway’s development had stalled, if not backtracked.
A season after he finished second in the SEC to Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart in passer rating, Lagway is currently 15th in the SEC.
“I don’t know that I’ve seen growth,” Kiffin said during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “I do know this, I watched the guy beat us last year and play great and have one of the highest yards per completion of any player in the country last year. I know the guy can play as well as anyone in the country at times and we gotta make sure that’s not against us.”
Other than a 21-of-28, 298-yard, two-touchdown day during a 29-21 upset of Texas Oct. 4 in Gainesville, Lagway has been inefficient, turnover-prone and lacking the big-play ability he showed as a true freshman phenom.
Five Lagway interceptions highlighted a 20-10 loss Sept. 13 at LSU. Three more at Kentucky allowed the Wildcats to cruise to a 38-7 win. Only once has Lagway’s passer rating topped 135, a standard he cleared during his six regular-season starts in 2024.
Interim coach Billy Gonzales had finally seen enough struggle last Saturday night in Lexington. True freshman Tramell Jones Jr. replaced Lagway during the third quarter.
Rather than shift to Jones at Ole Miss, Gonzales stuck with Lagway. The longtime receivers coach, who took over after UF fired Billy Napier Oct. 19, said he told his quarterback to relax and trust his instincts.
“When you start to try to press and try to do everything and put it all on you, that’s when the mistakes come,” Gonzales said.
Lagway’s issues might more than mental.
Right shoulder issues limited him during the offseason. A season after he completed 12 passes of at least 40 yards, Lagway has five.
If Kiffin leaves Ole Miss for UF, he’d inherit a quarterback reclamation project. Lagway has a chance Saturday to prove he’d be worth the risk.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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