The former Gators quarterback opens up about battling depression and isolation during his time in Gainesville, finding a fresh start.
DJ Lagway, a native of Willis, TX, is back in his home state after spending his first two years in college football with the Florida Gators.
Lagway went 328-of-529 passing for 4,179 yards, 28 touchdowns and 23 interceptions during his two seasons in Gainesville. He threw for 2,264 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 touchdowns in 2025, when the team finished with a 4-8 record.
Florida fired head coach Billy Napier and brought in Jon Sumrall from Tulane amid the Green Wave's run to the College Football Playoff. Lagway chose not to return to UF, transferring to Baylor.
In an interview with Matt Hayes of USA Today, Lagway noted the differences between Florida and Baylor. Because of his fame with the Gators, he stayed away from the classroom. He's going to classes at Baylor.
The young quarterback also dealt with significant issues during his two years at Florida. He admitted he struggled with depression, feeling isolated.
“I was in a bubble down there, I didn’t feel like a normal person,” Lagway said. “I didn’t even know what the campus looked like. I was really closed off. I didn’t really hang out with my teammates.
"Yeah, I was depressed. I just stayed in my own lane. Stayed out of the way.”
Lagway dealt with a calf injury, core muscle strain and shoulder injury while at Florida. Amid the injuries, he struggled to deal with the pressure of lofty expectations with the Gators. He felt he could have been a better teammate.
“I blame myself for not doing more to build that brotherhood with my teammates,” Lagway said. “But I felt like I was put on a pedestal. I was handcuffed, and couldn’t do nothing about my (injury) situation."
The six-foot-three, 247-pound athlete is finding a much different situation at Baylor than what he had at Florida. The Big 12 program doesn't have the same celebrity feel for players.
The expectations for the Bears won't be as high as what Florida's new quarterback will have to deal with during the upcoming season. Lagway could thrive with a new system in a way he never might have been able to with the Gators.