Merriam-Webster defines hope as “a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” Florida football fans would likely define hope as simply “DJ Lagway.”
As the true freshman signal-caller has found his footing throughout UF’s 2024 campaign, the Gators have blossomed as a collective squad. For the first time in what has felt like an eternity for the Florida faithful, the future finally looks bright for UF’s football program.
While Lagway has been the catalyst behind this late-season breakthrough, he’s far from the only reason that Florida is back on track.
Freshman running back Jadan Baugh notched five touchdowns against Kentucky a month ago and senior wide receiver Elijhah Badger is ranked second in the SEC in yards per reception. Those players, combined with a defensive unit that has hit its stride at just the right time, have put the Gators in position to make a bowl game as they enter the home stretch of the season.
But perhaps no one has benefited more from this recent stint of success than UF head coach Billy Napier. Early in the 2024 campaign, Napier faced calls for his firing from fans and analysts alike. Following Florida’s 33-20 loss to Texas A&M on Sept. 14, reports emerged that Florida boosters had gathered enough money to cover the expense of Napier’s contract buyout.
It felt all but certain that the Napier era would be soon coming to a close in Gainesville. Two months later, however, Napier has seemingly coached his way into a fourth season, and perhaps one final chance to prove that he is the right man to return Florida to its glory days.
On Nov. 7, UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced that Napier would continue as head football coach of the Florida Gators going forward. In response, Napier made it clear that he would not be taking this vote of confidence for granted while praising his squad for not letting the outside noise get to them.
“I think the big thing is just, you’ve got to compliment our players and staff just for staying the course,” he said. “It’s no easy task to keep focused on the work in front of you and be present.”
Admittedly, Napier’s relationship with Lagway through the recruiting process and his first season at Florida has likely played a key role in his job security moving forward. Seeing how Lagway has developed under the third-year UF head coach, the bond that the two share has been on full display from the moment he set foot in Gainesville.
Lagway has already built strong bonds with several teammates as well, but none have been as notable in recent weeks as his connection with Badger. Having transferred from Arizona State this past offseason, the senior wideout came to Gainesville looking to make a splash as a deep ball threat.
With an arm as talented as Lagway’s under center, Badger has settled in as a perfect fit within
Florida’s offense. In the four games that Lagway started, Badger has tallied 14 catches for 438 yards and a touchdown. The senior receiver tallied 100 yards in three of those four contests, with the only exception being when Lagway was sidelined in the first half against No. 12 Georgia with a hamstring injury.
Between Badger’s explosive playmaking abilities and Lagway’s cannon of an arm, their pairing has proven to be a match made in heaven for the Gators.
“We have an amazing connection,” Lagway said. “The way he excels when the ball is in the area – I can just put it up there, he’ll go get it.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Florida’s defense has come through with numerous strong performances of its own in recent weeks. For instance, LSU entered its matchup with Florida this past weekend having allowed just six sacks over its first nine games.
On Saturday, the Gators recorded a season-high seven sacks against the Tigers. Florida managed to sack LSU junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier more times than any other team this season combined.
UF junior defensive lineman Caleb Banks led the way, recording seven quarterback pressures against LSU, tied for the most among all defensive tackles in Week 12.
When asked about his source of motivation after the game, he admitted that he had a personal bone to pick against the Tigers — more specifically, junior offensive lineman Emery Jones, who picked up a fumble late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s contest before coming face-to-face with Banks.
“Last year, we played against LSU, and on the third play of the game, Emery Jones got me on a block and blindsided me a little bit,” UF junior defensive lineman Caleb Banks said. “When I seen him with the ball, I was like, ‘Is that who I think it is? I’m gonna get him now.’”
Banks proceeded to punch the ball out of Jones’ hands and recover his own fumble, punctuating an all-around dominant performance from Florida’s front seven. He later quipped that Jones “wasn’t talking for the rest of the game, either.”
The Gators will have their work cut out for them in keeping their momentum alive this coming weekend. Florida will play host to the No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Nov. 23, with kickoff time set for noon ET.
Regardless of what the road ahead of them may pose, however, Napier has made it clear that his squad will never give up and never give in to the pressure they face. This resilience, according to him, is what Florida football is truly all about.
“These guys could have pointed fingers and splintered a long time ago. That’s what I’m most proud of,” Napier said. “We played well tonight, but the way they’ve handled their business throughout the year, and for them to continue to show up to work… Belief and hope are the most powerful things in the world, and I think we’ve got that.”
Contact Jack Meyer at jmeyer@alligator.org. Follow him on X @jackmeyerUF.
Jack Meyer is a fourth-year journalism major and the Assistant Sports Editor for The Alligator. In his free time, he enjoys reviewing music, spending time with friends, playing video games and going to the gym.
