In a year destined to be remembered among the all-time greats, DJ Lagway has cemented his place in college football lore. The Florida quarterback not only brought championship glory back to Gainesville but also claimed every major individual honor possible, winning the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, and Davey O’Brien Award—a clean sweep that has only been accomplished by a quarterback once in modern history by Joe Burrow.
Lagway’s impact on the 2025 season was monumental. He led the Gators to an 11-2 record, an SEC Championship, and the program’s first No. 2 national ranking in years, with a playoff run still on the horizon. On the stat sheet, he was nothing short of sensational—327 completions on 456 attempts for 3,851 yards, 35 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions. On the ground, Lagway added 1,028 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 142 carries, showcasing his unmatched dual-threat ability and relentless drive to win.
This season, Lagway wasn’t just the face of Florida football—he was Florida football. Every key moment, every big drive, every defining win seemed to have his fingerprints all over it.
Big-Game Brilliance
Lagway’s case for the Heisman was built on the biggest stages.
Against Georgia, Lagway delivered one of the defining moments of the season. Facing a fierce Bulldog defense, he rallied Florida from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter, threading pinpoint passes and extending plays with his legs. His late touchdown drive to seal a 38-30 win not only avenged an earlier loss but also propelled the Gators toward their SEC title run.
In the SEC Championship Game, Lagway turned in a performance that legends are made of. Facing Alabama under the bright lights, he was unflappable—mixing efficient passing with timely scrambles that broke the Tide’s spirit. He threw two touchdowns, ran for another, and controlled the game’s tempo from start to finish, guiding the Gators to their first SEC crown in over a decade.
Then came the rivalry game against Florida State. Lagway once again rose to the occasion, lighting up the Seminoles with multiple touchdown passes and clutch runs in a 49-27 victory. That win capped an 11-2 season and set the tone for Florida’s playoff run.
Week after week, Lagway proved to be the difference-maker—calm in chaos, confident in crunch time, and utterly dominant when it mattered most.
Comparing Lagway to Tim Tebow’s Legendary 2007 Season
For Florida fans, it’s impossible not to think back to Tim Tebow’s 2007 Heisman campaign, a season that made Gainesville the center of the college football universe. Tebow was a phenomenon, throwing for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 895 yards and 23 scores. His total of 55 touchdowns set a standard that few thought would ever be challenged.
Yet Lagway’s 2025 performance stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Tebow’s—and in some ways, surpasses it.
Lagway’s passing efficiency (71.7% completion rate) eclipsed Tebow’s 66.9%, and his 3,851 passing yards outpace Tebow’s total by over 500 yards. On the ground, Lagway’s 1,028 rushing yards came on fewer carries, making him even more explosive as a runner. His 53 total touchdowns (35 passing, 18 rushing) narrowly trail Tebow’s 55, but Lagway’s balance, precision, and leadership in guiding an 11-2, SEC-champion Florida team give him an argument for the most complete season a Gator quarterback has ever had.
Tebow’s Heisman year was defined by his raw power and unmatched leadership. Lagway’s is defined by poise, polish, and a calm command that elevated everyone around him. Where Tebow bulldozed defenders, Lagway dissected defenses. Both were unstoppable—but Lagway did it against an SEC even deeper and more competitive than the one Tebow dominated nearly two decades earlier.
The Historic Award Sweep
Winning one of college football’s major individual awards is a career-defining achievement. Winning all four—the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and Davey O’Brien Award—is something one quarterback had ever done in the same season.
Tim Tebow in 2007 won the Heisman, Maxwell, and Davey O’Brien Awards, but the Walter Camp Award went to Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. Other greats like Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray have captured multiple awards in a season, but none have claimed all four.
That’s what makes Lagway’s 2025 campaign so extraordinary. He didn’t just dominate on the field—he earned unanimous recognition as college football’s best player, best quarterback, and most valuable leader. His name now joins the short list of the sport’s true icons, sitting alongside Tebow, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, and Burrow—but with a distinction all his own.
A Leader Beyond the Numbers
While Lagway’s stats are staggering, it’s his leadership and maturity that truly set him apart. Time and again, he showed a veteran’s calm in the biggest moments. When the Gators trailed, his teammates never panicked—they knew Lagway would find a way. His ability to balance aggression with patience, improvisation with discipline, made him nearly impossible to defend.
Teammates often spoke about his presence in the locker room—never too high, never too low, always focused. That steady confidence rippled through the roster, transforming Florida from a talented team into a championship-caliber unit.
His poise was on full display in the fourth quarters of tight games, where he completed over 75% of his passes and accounted for 20 total touchdowns without a turnover in those situations. That level of composure is rare for a college quarterback, rarer still for one in his first full season as a starter.
Cementing a Legacy
With Florida on the verge of a potential national championship appearance, Lagway’s season isn’t finished—but it’s already immortal. His name will now forever be mentioned in the same breath as Tebow’s, as one of the most dominant players to ever wear the orange and blue.
If the Gators make a run through the College Football Playoff, Lagway could cap off the storybook season with the ultimate prize: a national championship. But even if he never takes another snap in college, his place in history is secure.
For years to come, fans will talk about the 2025 Florida Gators not just as a great team—but as DJ Lagway’s team. The one that reminded the world what happens when Gainesville has a generational talent under center.
Lagway’s combination of efficiency, explosiveness, and leadership defines the modern dual-threat quarterback. And as he continues to chase a national title, one thing is already certain: 2025 belongs to DJ Lagway.
