GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The headline on a CBSSports.com story Thursday morning asked the same question Gators fans and college football enthusiasts have asked in recent weeks: What’s wrong with DJ Lagway?

Florida coach Billy Napier has certainly attempted to answer the question many times early this season. He did more of the same after Wednesday night’s practice.

Lagway enters Saturday’s game at No. 4 Miami coming off a five-interception performance in Florida’s 20-10 loss at LSU. Meanwhile, Lagway is coming off an offseason limited by a series of injuries (shoulder, hernia, calf).

How much of Lagway’s offseason is contributing to his struggles?

“We’re not in the shoulda, coulda, woulda world,” Napier said. “We went through what we went through, certainly it wasn’t ideal, we’ve said that in the past. Sometimes things don’t go your way, sometimes there’s adversity, and I’m confident that we’ll look up down the road and there’ll be some benefit for him.”

Lagway threw for 287 yards in the loss to LSU, setting career highs in completions (33) and attempts (49). But the five interceptions overshadowed a stellar defensive effort by the Gators and raised questions about Lagway’s development. He is completing 71% of his passes (71-for-100), but has misfired on several routine throws and has not been able to find a rhythm in the downfield passing game like he did last season.

Lagway’s best throw at LSU was a 10-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown pass to receiver Aidan Mizell that dropped perfectly into the bucket.

“DJ is going to stay DJ,” Mizell said Wednesday. “We know what he can do. We know what he’s capable of. I mean, everyone knows he didn’t have the best night. It happens to everyone. He’s just going through it, going to get him back on track.”

After 15 career games – including 10 starts – Lagway has thrown for 2,544 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Despite the outside concerns, Napier is confident in the five-star prospect out of Willis, Texas.

“I think it’ll test his mental toughness,” Napier said. “Maybe there’ll be some calluses with this. I think as a young player it’s important to feel both sides of that. I think it could be beneficial for him as a competitor. You can’t connect others’ opinions of you or narrative to your confidence or your process. That’s how you anchor in the midst of the storm, and I think it’s a good test.”

 

GATORS ADJUST WITHOUT JULUKE
 
Running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, suspended for three games by the Southeastern Conference for his involvement in a pregame skirmish during pregame warm-ups at LSU, will remain with the team until the Gators leave for Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, according to Napier.

“We’ll absorb his game-day responsibilities among the staff,” Napier said Wednesday on the SEC media teleconference.

Napier’s staff includes several offensive analysts, including veteran on-field coaches John Donovan, William Peagler, Steve Spurrier Jr. and Eric Kiesau.

Juluke is in his fourth season with the Gators and has played an instrumental role in developing a backfield that has featured players such as Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne, Jadan Baugh, and Ja’Kobi Jackson.

Napier was not on the field during the pregame dust-up near Florida’s sideline as several Gators and Tigers converged and started shoving and pushing one another.

He understood why Juluke was suspended.

“In general, I think just misrepresentative of the league, of the university, of our organization as a whole. And Jabbar has taken ownership of that, as you would expect from Jabbar,” Napier said. “He’s been first-class in terms of the way he’s handled it. He’ll serve his time here and the discipline that comes with making a tough decision. Jabbar’s got a body of work in his career. He made a mistake, and I think the big thing here is that we’ve got to continue to grow and learn from things like this and be a good example to others. And he’s done that so far.”

 

WILSON CLOSE TO RETURN
 
Napier offered a promising update on injured receiver Dallas Wilson, a true freshman from Tampa who had a breakout performance in the Orange & Blue Game.

Wilson has not played after suffering a left foot injury during preseason camp.

“We anticipate him starting next week,” Napier said. “Right now, I think he’s dry-land running.”

The 6-foot-3, 213-pound Wilson, who signed with Oregon out of Tampa Bay Tech before changing course and signing with the Gators, adds an intriguing option to the mix if healthy.

Wilson caught 41 passes and nine touchdowns as a prep senior, and in his first appearance for the Gators, he hauled in 10 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game.

 

NAPIER SUPPORTS NCAA NEWS
 
The roster instability that college football has experienced over the past few seasons was granted a slice of stability on Wednesday.

The NCAA Division I Administrative Committee voted to eliminate the spring transfer portal window. Next, the FBS and FCS oversight committees will determine the exact dates of the proposed single January window, which is currently scheduled from Jan. 2-11.

 

Administrative Committee eliminates DI football’s spring transfer window and fall transfer window’s graduate student exception.

In response to student-athlete feedback, football oversight committees will consider modifications to proposed single January window, including length… pic.twitter.com/fFP3sEf0ty

— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) September 17, 2025

Napier has gone on record in support of a single transfer window to help limit some of the chaos that has overwhelmed coaches in recent seasons.

“It’s about progress more than perfection,” Napier said this month. “With the amount of investment that we are putting into the players and the roster. I think it’s critical that we, at one time of year, have a transaction time. You have one window so that all business will be done prior. You will know who is on your team.”

 

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