GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators snapped their streak of three consecutive losing seasons in 2024 behind the emergence of freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

UF head coach Billy Napier has another streak he is eager to toss into the trash can: opening a preseason press conference by announcing that Lagway is limited in what he can do on the field.

Much like at the start of spring camp when Napier revealed Lagway would not be throwing due to a shoulder injury, he announced Tuesday that Lagway is one of five Gators who will be “modified” at the start of preseason camp when the Gators practice for the first time on Wednesday.

“I mean, it’s not ideal,” Napier said. “In a perfect world, he would have been perfect every day of the offseason. I think the good thing is his attitude towards it.”

Reports surfaced Monday that Lagway suffered a calf injury during a team run last week and has been hobbling around the Heavener Center in a protective boot. While Napier did not specify Lagway’s latest setback, he confirmed the 19-year-old quarterback is not 100 percent. Lagway is among a group that includes linebacker Grayson Howard, receiver Kahleil Jackson, running back Treyaun Webb and freshman offensive lineman TJ Dice Jr.

 

#Gators HC Billy Napier‘s press conference as team reports for camp on Tuesday … pic.twitter.com/3LDqvoSv2b

— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) July 29, 2025

“We have a positive attitude towards where they’re headed and their opportunity to get back here shortly,” Napier said. “[DJ] is day to day. I think we’re about a week removed [since he was injured]. In general, he’s made a lot of quick progress, but it will be something that we’re monitoring and hopefully, as we go, his ability to participate in practice will be a little bit more each opportunity that we get going forward.”

Meanwhile, following a scenario we saw in the spring, veteran Louisville transfer Harrison Bailey, sophomore Aidan Warner and true freshman Tramell Jones Jr. will take the majority of the snaps until Lagway can fully participate. Bailey threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the Orange & Blue Game playing for the Orange, while Warner connected on 10 of 23 passes for 157 yards and a pair of first-half touchdown throws for the Blue. Warner made a start in last season’s loss at Texas when Lagway suffered a hamstring injury in the first half against Georgia and missed a game. He returned to lead the Gators to four consecutive wins to close the season, including victories over ranked LSU and Ole Miss.

Napier voiced an optimistic outlook Tuesday in what the Gators have on the depth chart behind Lagway, who threw for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a rookie. But beyond his stats as a playmaker, Lagway injected confidence in a program that opened the season 4-5 before rallying down the stretch.

Lagway is the primary reason the Gators are considered a potential College Football Playoff team by many analysts.

“I think all of our quarterbacks have taken advantage of the reps, Aidan in particular, I think, has taken a big step in the right direction,” Napier said. “And Harrison, being a veteran player, and then Tramell, we’ve seen him get healthy and more comfortable in the system. There’s a ton of competition among that group. There is a little bit of blessing here in that we are going to be able to give those guys a ton of reps and see how they are going to respond to that.”

Lagway’s latest setback came a week after he attended the SEC Media Days in Atlanta and used humor to defuse questions about his health.

“All right, I don’t have a prosthetic arm, just letting you all know that,” Lagway said. “But no, I’m feeling great, training’s been amazing. I’m actually getting better at things. I’m not just trying to get back to throwing the ball, I’ve been working on mechanics that’s going to help my accuracy this year, help my decision-making.”

Napier is confident that whatever reps Lagway misses at the start of camp won’t stunt his development after he took countless reps over the summer on offseason drills.

The Gators open the season Aug. 30 at home against FCS program Long Island University.

“When he gets back, he’ll be just fine,” Napier said. “Injuries are one of the toughest things about the profession. And certainly for him, being a Year 2 player, and a really motivated and hungry guy, I think he’s done a good job of staying connected. I think he still has a voice as a leader. He’s still walking the halls; he’s still able to be a factor in that regard. But he’s still a very young player. He needs these reps for development as well.

“He’s had a great attitude towards it. I think we have to help him manage expectations a little bit. In general, one day at a time. He understands, I think, what is required to be ready. It’s not ideal, but ultimately, we’ll come up with the best plan we can to have him ready.”