​Former Florida football coach Steve Spurrier once called the summer the “talking season,” a window for players and coaches to air out their thoughts before the fall grind begins. In the current moment, former quarterback DJ Lagway and former coach Billy Napier have opened up about why things didn’t gel with the Florida Gators. Their reflections come as a reminder of the challenges that accompanied a tenure marked by struggles on the field and a shifting landscape off it.
Napier and Lagway’s collaborative run at UF totaled a 10-8 record, a win-loss tally that ultimately wasn’t enough to keep Napier in charge of the program. In an On3 interview published July 7, Napier described himself as stubborn for not bringing in an offensive coordinator and acknowledged that he and his staff were overwhelmed by the demands of roster building in the Name, Image and Likeness era. “We really struggled to manage the workload that came with NIL and the transfer portal,” Napier told On3’s Wilson Alexander. “I think, in general, the work kept piling up in terms of my responsibility to our team and to our entire organization. So, for me, if I had to sum it up, I would say the key was the need to delegate more effectively and hire exceptional people in specific areas, then empower them to do their jobs at a high level.”
Lagway, representing Baylor at Big 12 Media Days on July 7, spoke about how health problems affected his confidence during his UF tenure, a period that included a 4-8 start as Florida’s starter. He endured a five-interception game against LSU, managed only 61 passing yards in a loss to Miami, and came off the field at halftime after a three-interception showing against Kentucky. His health narrative extended into the spring of 2025: Lagway did not throw during spring drills due to shoulder and groin issues, and a calf injury in the summer prevented him from taking live repetitions until the final week of fall camp. He closed the season with 2,264 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions before transferring to Baylor last December.
“At Big 12 media day, I spoke about the cultivation of both health and mental resilience,” Lagway said. “It was about fighting through the mental battles and the physical hurdles even when I wasn’t healthy and then again once I was healthy, trying to compensate for the lack of reps I needed to perform at the level I’d hoped for. It was a tremendous struggle to manage both aspects and still push forward.”
The broader context of these reflections underscores how the NIL era and transfer dynamics have reshaped the responsibilities of a college football program’s leadership, from play-calling and game-planning to roster construction and development. Napier’s acknowledgment of his own limitations—his belief that delegating more, hiring top-tier specialists, and empowering others could have changed the trajectory of Florida’s fortunes—offers a candid look at what might have altered the Gators’ path had those elements been approached differently.
Lagway’s comments, meanwhile, highlight the human side of a quarterback’s journey through health setbacks and mental hurdles, and how those factors can influence a player’s confidence and performance on the field. His path from Florida to Baylor illustrates how a player’s frame of mind, availability, and preparation are all intertwined with the broader program dynamics that accompany life in major college football today.
As these conversations continue to surface, they provide a snapshot of the complexities involved in running a high-profile football program within a modern landscape defined by NIL opportunities, portal activity, and the evolving demands on coaches and players alike. The dialogue also serves as a reminder to fans and observers that decisions made in college sports often hinge on more than wins and losses—on leadership choices, health, and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing collegiate environment. This renewed transparency from Napier and Lagway will likely fuel further discussion about what Florida might have needed to improve and how similar programs could navigate these challenges moving forward.
Contact information for further inquiries remains with Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun. This piece originally appeared in The Gainesville Sun, offering a candid look at Billy Napier and DJ Lagway’s reflections on their Florida tenure and the factors they identify as having shaped their experiences.