In a stunning turn of events, the Florida Gators’ hopes for an upset victory over the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs took a devastating blow when star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway was carted off the field with a hamstring injury in the first half of Saturday’s game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
Lagway, the electric dual-threat quarterback who had sparked the Gators’ offense in recent weeks, slipped on the turf and slid under safety KJ Bolden’s tackle, immediately grabbing his left hamstring in pain. As the Florida team gathered around, the young QB was lifted onto a cart and taken off the field, leaving Gator Nation holding its collective breath.
Lagway’s Impact on the Gators
The injury comes as a particularly cruel blow for a Florida team that was beginning to find its stride under the leadership of the dynamic freshman. Lagway, the No. 12 recruit in the Class of 2024 according to ESPN Recruiting, had already made his mark on the game before the injury, connecting with Aidan Mizell on a 43-yard touchdown pass to give the Gators a 7-3 lead over the heavily favored Bulldogs.
DJ has been a game-changer for us. His ability to make plays with his arm and his legs has really opened up our offense. Losing him is tough, but this team has a lot of fight in it.
– A source close to the Florida program
Next Man Up: Aidan Warner Steps In
With Lagway sidelined, the Gators turned to freshman walk-on Aidan Warner, who had joined the team just this past spring after spending the 2023 season at Yale. While Warner didn’t see any action in his brief Ivy League stint, he did find the end zone on a 9-yard touchdown run in Florida’s 45-7 rout of Samford on Sept. 7.
Although Warner lacks the pedigree and experience of Lagway, his teammates and coaches have expressed confidence in his ability to lead the offense. The young signal-caller will be tested early and often against a fierce Georgia defense looking to maintain its unbeaten record.
Florida’s Quarterback Depth Tested
The Gators were already playing without former starting quarterback Graham Mertz, who saw his college career come to a premature end when he tore the ACL in his left knee during a 23-17 loss at Tennessee on Oct. 12. With Lagway’s status now in question, Florida’s quarterback depth will be thoroughly tested as they navigate the remainder of a challenging SEC schedule.
As the team awaits further updates on the severity of Lagway’s injury, Gator fans are left to wonder what might have been had their rising star not been cut down in the midst of a potential signature win. For now, all eyes turn to Aidan Warner as he looks to lead Florida to an improbable upset and keep the team’s postseason hopes alive.
