2024 Florida Football Postgame Notes
Florida 45, Samford 7
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field – Gainesville, Fla.
LAGWAY PASSES FOR FBS-HIGH 456 YARDS IN FIRST START
- Making his first-career start, QB DJ Lagway passed for the most yards ever (456) by a Florida true
freshman quarterback, breaking Chris Leak’s mark of 269 vs. Kentucky in 2003.
o Lagway’s 456 passing yards are the most in the FBS this season and rank ninth all-time at
Florida (most since Emory Jones threw for 464 yards vs. Samford on Nov. 13, 2021).
o Lagway completed 18-of-25 passes (72.0%) highlighted by three touchdowns and a 264.8
rating. - Lagway became Florida’s first true freshman starter at quarterback since Treon Harris in the 2014
Birmingham Bowl.
o Lagway is Florida’s seventh true freshman starter at quarterback. - The Gators eclipsed 600 yards of offense (632) for the first time since Oct. 2, 2022 vs. Eastern
Washington (666). - Florida improved to 24-1 against FCS teams dating back to 1981.
o UF has outscored its opponents in those 25 games by an average margin of 38.7 points. - The Gators have totaled 400-plus yards while passing for 200-plus yards in nine-straight games vs. FCS
teams since 2014.
o Florida has racked up 400-plus yards in 17 of its 19 games against FCS schools dating back
to 1996. - The Florida Ticket Office moved 1,000 tickets on Saturday morning to achieve a second-straight
sellout (89,295) to open the season, including the 11th sellout of the Billy Napier era.
o Florida had sellouts in five of six games last season.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
- Lagway opened 3-for-3 for 83 yards, highlighted by a 77-yard cannon to WR Elijhah Badger on
Florida’s second drive.
He completed three passes of 40-plus yards in the first half, going 8-of-11 for 209
yards.
o Lagway threw his first-career touchdown pass in the third quarter.
- The 77-yard grab marked the longest of Badger’s career and extended his streak to 28-straight
games with a reception (10th in FBS).
o The 77-yard completion marked Florida’s longest since Oct. 29, 2022 vs. Georgia (Xzavier
Henderson 78-yard touchdown reception) and second-longest non-TD pass since 1996
(Quinton Dunbar, 83 yards vs. Georgia on Nov. 2, 2013). - Badger totaled 100 receiving yards for the fifth time in his career (first at UF).
o Badger finished with 123 receiving yards on three catches. - WR Eugene Wilson III totaled a career-high 141 receiving yards and one touchdown on six
receptions for his first 100-yard receiving game.
o Wilson III’s 85-yard touchdown reception was Florida’s longest since Mark Thompson’s 85-
yard touchdown vs. Iowa on Jan. 2, 2017.
The score is tied for the third-longest by a Gator since 1996.
o Wilson’s 141 yards came on an astounding 136 YAC. - RB Montrell Johnson Jr. scored two rushing TDs in the first half to reach 30 career rushing TDs (18 at
UF) to open the scoring.
o He has now scored 32 total TDs in his college career.
o Johnson Jr. registered his sixth-career game with multiple rushing TDs (third at UF). - WR Chimere Dike surpassed the 1,500-yard mark on his career with a 44-yard catch in the second
quarter. - The Gators have punched in a rushing touchdown in nine-consecutive games and in 23 of 27
contests since 2022. - WR Tank Hawkins caught a 36-yard touchdown pass for his first-career catch in the third quarter.
o Hawkins became the first UF true freshman to catch a TD pass on his first-career reception
since Caleb Douglas vs. Eastern Washington in 2022. - In 21 of 27 games in the Napier era, Florida has registered at least one passing touchdown.
- WR Aidan Mizell recorded his first-career TD reception with a 41-yard grab from Lagway in the third
quarter. - QB Aidan Warner made his UF debut, rushing for a nine-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
- Florida passed for 300 yards for the first time since Nov. 11, 2023 vs. LSU (311).
o This is the 30th time Florida has reached 300 passing yards in the team’s last 77 games and
the eight time to accomplish the feat since 2022.
● The Gators eclipsed 400 yards of offense for the 13th time since the start of 2022.
● Florida has rushed for 100-plus yards in 22 of their last 27 games since 2022.
● The Gators eclipsed 500 yards for the sixth time in the Napier era and the first time since Nov. 18,
2023 at Missouri (500).
o This is the 17th time in Florida’s last 50 games that the Gators have totaled 500-plus yards.
● Florida scored 30 points for the 14th time since 2022 and the first time since Nov. 18, 2023 at Missouri
(31).
DEFENSIVE NOTES
● The Gators held their opponent to the fewest yards (205) since Sept. 9, 2023 vs. McNeese (112).
o The 61 rushing yards allowed were also the team’s fewest since 2023 vs. McNeese.
● Florida has recorded a takeaway in each of the first two games of the season.
● DB Jason Marshall Jr. recorded his first-career forced fumble as DB Aaron Gates notched his
second-career fumble recovery for a takeaway on Samford’s opening possession.
o Marshall Jr. led the team with six tackles (five solo), tying his career high.
● DE George Gumbs Jr. logged his first sack as a Gator in the first quarter.
o Gumbs registered a tackle for loss two plays later and finished with a team-high 3.0.
● DE Tyreak Sapp recorded his second sack of the season and the fourth of his career, finishing with
a career-high 2.5 TFLs.
● DL Caleb Banks picked up his first sack of the season to moved his career total to 3.0.
● DE Justus Boone registered a career-high 1.5 TFLs.
● DE Ja’Markis Weston notched his first-career sack.
● Florida held their opponent to seven points or fewer for the fourth time in the Napier era.
● Florida held Samford to under 300 total yards of offense (205).
o This is the eighth time since the start of the 2022 season that the Gators have held an
opponent to 300 yards or fewer.
● Florida held its opponent to under 200 passing yards for the 10th time in the Napier era.
● The Gators allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards for the seventh time in the Napier era.
● The Gators recorded four sacks in tonight’s game while allowing just one.
o Since the start of 2021, Florida has out-sacked its opponents by a plus-13 margin.
o Florida’s 206 sacks since 2018 season ranks tied-for-second in the SEC and tied-for-13th
nationally.
● With one takeaway vs. Samford, Florida’s defense has now produced 109 turnovers since 2018,
which ranks sixth in the SEC.
o The Gators have produced at least one turnover in 19 of 27 games in the Napier era.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
● P Jeremy Crawshaw punted two times for an average of 49.5 yards including two inside the 20-
yard line, one of 50-plus yards and a long of 61.
o Crawshaw has punted for 50-plus yards on 58 of 138 career punts.
● K Trey Smack connected on his lone field goal attempt of 25 yards to improve to 2-for-2 on the
season.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS (15)
● RB Montrell Johnson Jr.: 16-yard rush, first quarter
● WR Elijhah Badger (from QB DJ Lagway): 77-yard reception, first quarter
● RB Jadan Baugh: 14-yard rush, second quarter
● WR Chimere Dike (from Lagway): 44-yard reception, second quarter
● TE Hayden Hansen (from Lagway): 40-yard reception, second quarter
● WR Elijhah Badger (from Lagway): 22-yard reception, second quarter
● RB Montrell Johnson Jr.: 14-yard rush, second quarter
● WR Eugene Wilson III (from Lagway): 22-yard reception, third quarter
● RB Montrell Johnson Jr.: 11-yard rush, third quarter
● WR Tank Hawkins (from Lagway): 36-yard TD reception, third quarter
● WR Eugene Wilson (from Lagway): 16-yard reception, third quarter
● RB Ja’Kobi Jackson: 10-yard rush, third quarter
● WR Aidan Mizell (from Lagway): 41-yard TD reception, third quarter
● WR Elijhah Badger: 24-yard reception, third quarter
● WR Eugene Wilson III (from Lagway): 85-yard TD reception, fourth quarter
SERIES UPDATES
● Tonight’s game represented the fourth all-time meeting between Florida and Samford and third
meeting in Gainesville.
● With tonight’s victory, the Gators improve to 4-0 (1.000) in the all-time series vs. Samford and 3-0
(1.000) in the Swamp.
o Florida has outscored Samford 206-59 in the all-time series.
- HC Billy Napier improves to 1-0 against Samford HC Chris Hatcher.
- The Gators have scored at least 30 points in all four matchups versus the Bulldogs and average 51.5
points per game against them.
THE STREAK
● Florida has scored in 450-consecutive games — an NCAA record and 54 games longer than any
other college football team in history.
o The Gators broke Michigan’s record of 365-consecutive games (1984-2014) against LSU on
Oct. 7, 2017.
o The last time Florida was shut out was on Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn (L, 16-0).
GAME DETAILS
● Florida Game Captains: #70 OL Damien George Jr., #24 EDGE Kamran James, #42 LS Rocco
Underwood
● Coin Toss: Florida won the toss and deferred, Florida defended the north endzone.
● Attendance: 89,295
University of Florida Football
Media Conference
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Billy Napier
Press Conference
Florida – 45, Samford – 7
BILLY NAPIER: We gave them a little bit more to cheer
about this week. I think the key here, and I just talked to
the football team about it, that’s a good step in the right
direction. We all understand the level of competition and
the opponent. We have a tremendous amount of respect
for Coach Hatcher and Samford, but better teams and
better opponents are coming.
There’s still a handful of things for us to clean up as a
whole, but I thought the defense settled in, and obviously
DJ Lagway had a phenomenal night. We played well
around him.
We challenged the team and every position group and on
special teams to kind of rally around him and raise their
level of play, knowing that he was a rookie and it was his
first start.
I thought we started fast. We had some energy about us
early. So compliment to the players. It’s been a long
week. It’s been a tough week. I do think our players got a
little bit better each day. Wednesday we had a
phenomenal practice, and I think the leadership was in a
good place heading into the game today.
Q. How did DJ just energize the attack and really the
crowd too? Last week I don’t think he had one 20-yard
pass and gave six 35-yarders himself.
BILLY NAPIER: The explosives in the first half obviously
were a big piece to the puzzle, two big plays. And we had
some balance, right? I think we established the run early.
He had time too, right? I think that’s the important part as
well. We protected better.
So, yeah, very impressive. I thought he was pretty clean. I
think he had a mental error on the first drive. Outside of
that, overall he managed it pretty well and played pretty
clean.
Q. What does this do for his chances of playing more going forward?
BILLY NAPIER: I think that our intentions are the same.
We intend to play him every week. I think we intended to
do that last week as well. I think we had 20 plays or
something at halftime last week. So we struggled to get
any rhythm going.
But he brings a different element to our team. There’s no
question he’ll be a part of every plan going forward.
Q. More on DJ, what kind of impressed you most
about his performance?
BILLY NAPIER: I would tell you there’s two things. Before
he got here, I was amazed with the humility and how he
handled all the attention. Now, we knew him before he
exploded. We found him early, and he was committed to
us. Then his high school career just blew up that senior
year.
But to just see how he handled himself, the way he
prioritized his team back at Willis and the way he carried
that community and represented his family. So that was
extremely impressive.
Then to get here, I think it’s never too big for the guy. I
almost think it’s like he raises his level a little bit. When
you think about the spring game, last week when he went
in, you would have never known any different this week.
He was just moving right along.
I think he’s had a chance to watch Graham prepare, knew
what to expect, had a week under his belt. Then obviously
he was excited, and I think he made the most of his
opportunities.
Q. Three of DJ’s first four passes tonight were for 40
yards or more. How would you say that his ability to
just throw the deep ball and push the offense that way
expands your guys’ attack just when you guys are
looking to make some moves offensively?
BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, it’s impressive. I think the vertical
passing game, not just — I mean, these are accurate, right
in stride. They were impressive.
You know, the first one was naked, right? It’s almost like
he said I’m throwing that double move on the outside. So
he set his feet, first two guys in the progression were open,
and he threw it down there to Badger. That was
impressive.
Yeah, he’s got that in him. He’s been battling, his arm has
not necessarily been a hundred percent the last couple
weeks. He’s been banged up a little bit. I think he finally
kind of end of the week this week was healthy. You saw
that tonight.
Q. Coach, you stressed execution this week and how
important that was on both sides of the ball. Just at
face value before you look at the tape, how would you
gauge that this week?
BILLY NAPIER: Well, I think we communicated better on
defense, and I think that we adjusted well. They gave us a
ton of wrinkles early, a lot of loose plays on the perimeter.
I thought that the defensive staff did a good job of
adjusting, getting to the right concepts based off of how
they were playing offense.
Yeah, I think offensively — I’m frustrated with the penalties.
The offensive line had a handful of penalties that we need
to clean up, but, yeah, it was clean. I would say they gave
us a few things different on defense, but for the most part,
it’s what we practiced, and I think the guys handled it pretty
well.
Q. Just following up, what kind of shoulder issue, arm
issue had DJ been dealing with? Secondly, could you
just take us through did you call plays in week 1, and
did you call plays tonight?
BILLY NAPIER: Lagway just had coming out of camp, I
think it’s just a volume thing for a rookie, just the wear and
tear of training camp and the number of throws. No
significant issue there. But it was an issue right there
headed into Miami. I think he had a phenomenal week,
and he’s 100 percent healthy now.
We call the plays. I don’t necessarily — our entire offensive
staff worked hard all week. So I think that that’s overrated.
I think the offense executed well today. But we called the
plays week 1, and we called the plays tonight as well.
Q. You mentioned penalties disappointing or
frustrating you. There was like several personal fouls,
I guess again. Last week there was a couple, but this
week there was three or four.
BILLY NAPIER: We had to — one was, I think, the
roughing the passer, I think we’ll go back and look at that.
The ref was bang-bang. I saw the replay. I could see
where that could go either way.
Now, the kid that shoves the guy after the PAT, that’s not
acceptable. We have to eliminate those types of things,
right? Those are personal decisions, and you compromise
the entire team when you do those types of things. We’re
not going to tolerate it. Nothing frustrates me more than
things like that.
Q. They might have missed one because DJ took a
pretty nice shot to the head. How did he kind of
handle that and shake that off?
BILLY NAPIER: No, he’s good. I think he’s probably a
little more fatigued than maybe he was hit. I think he ran
around a little bit, but definitely took a shot there. But he
was clear, got to the sideline. He was all good to go.
Q. It was mentioned before, the fact that DJ just
energized everybody from your team to the stadium
and everything. 456 yards is something to be very
proud of. But how much is that performance — and,
yes, it is Samford and you’re going to be playing an
SEC team next week. How different is it going to be —
how much does a thought go into maybe if we give
him the start, we could see something different out of
him? Is that going through your mind right now?
BILLY NAPIER: Well, that’s a hypothetical question.
We’re going to enjoy this game tonight. We’re going to go
back and watch the tape. We’ve got a good young
quarterback, and we have an incredible veteran
quarterback as well. So it’s a good thing for our current
team and the future of the program to some degree.
Look, I think we have the makings of a really good football
team. I think that, if we can play complementary ball and
we can play good defense, good offense, good in the
kicking game, we’ve got a chance to have a good team.
This group of players is very disappointed with how they
performed in week 1, and it’s personal to them. I think that
they’re on a mission to prove that all this work that they’ve
been doing, and that was not who they want to be. I think
it’s been a tough week in that regard.
Maybe that gives us the spark that we need to prepare the
right way, to start fast, to bring energy. But there’s no
doubt the level of competition that we’re getting ready to
face over the next couple of weeks will be completely
different.
They understand that. We understand that. Ultimately
we’ve got to have a good week of prep. We’ve got a
chance to be in The Swamp next week again at 3:30.
Q. The receivers today, Badger obviously. I know
Kahleil Jackson had the tough situation this week, but
Badger, Mizell, Hawkins — it seemed like a lot of guys
spread the ball around really well. What are your
thoughts about their passing game today as well?
BILLY NAPIER: We’ve got some good young receivers. I
think you kind of saw that today. I think Tank is capable.
Marcus Burke is capable. He’s had a great week and got
the start. Badger happened to be in the game when the
ball came his way. Trey came out of halftime, and we felt
like we hadn’t involved Trey enough, and we got him the
ball early.
But, yeah, I think the depth of that group will be tested, and
we’re going to need some of those young players to step
up and be productive every week. Receiver is tough,
right? Because you’re out there playing and you might play
50 plays and catch three balls, but you played really well.
You ran a lot of good routes. The coverage was maybe
tilted your direction, and the ball went somewhere else.
So I think that group needs to continue to improve and
develop as the season goes. It’s going to be a big piece of
the puzzle for us.
Q. I know Graham was dealing with his own recovery
throughout the week, but how much did you see him
involved helping DJ prepare for his first start? I know
you mentioned he’d be in the box potentially, but what
did you see from him on the sideline being kind of that
player coach that you talked about throughout the
game today?
BILLY NAPIER: He’s been with him the majority of the
week, especially the latter half of the week, once he was
cleared and back in meetings, back in practice.
The night before the game, they had like a little
walk-through in the room. Graham was going through
every play with him. That’s the type of relationship that
they have. I’ve been watching them since January, so
they’re both incredible young men and really good
teammates.
Q. So this won’t be like a Wally Pipp situation, if you
know that reference, with Graham losing a job because
of injury?
BILLY NAPIER: No. I just think it proves what we thought
in the beginning. This guy was a Gatorade National Player
of the Year. He’s one of the best players in the entire
country, and he had the opportunity to play the entire game
today, and he is what we thought he was.
We’re going to stay the course, and much like we
described in the beginning, we’ll have a plan for DJ every
week going forward.
Q. And then George Gumbs, tight end, only played a
year of defense, just what did you guys see from him?
Tonight three tackles for loss, a sack.
BILLY NAPIER: It’s a great evaluation. When Bird Sherrill
found George, he went in early, and obviously they did a
good job of kind of doing the research, the homework.
George was a former walk-on that turned scholarship
player as a receiver and then tight end. He played on
special teams. Then last year he moved to defensive end
and had a good year. He’s got traits, and he’s one of the
better — he’s incredible.
You guys should do a story about George Gumbs. He’s an
impressive young man. He’s got a great story, COVID
recruit. Definitely a guy that has done a good job with our
team. He’s got some personality, maturity. His work habits
are second to none. We anticipated that he had a chance
to be a good player, and he’s proven that over time.
Q. Is Mertz cleared, and do you expect him to be
cleared by Monday?
BILLY NAPIER: He’s not officially cleared. He’s expected
to go through the non-contact practice. We expect him to
be full speed next week.
Q. Obviously there was a lot of negative buzz in the
days after the Miami game, some rankings having
Florida dropping to only three wins on the season.
What does a dominant performance like this, what
does it do to change the attitude in the locker room
and get you guys back on track as you look forward to
a tough matchup against A&M this weekend?
BILLY NAPIER: It’s a good step forward. Ultimately, our
players are very aware. I have leadership coming up to me
and saying, hey, Coach, look, we all understand this was a
good day, good step in the right direction, but we’ve got a
lot of work to do, and we’ve got to make sure we’re in the
right frame of mind when we show up tomorrow.
Look, better competition is ahead. We all understand that.
We have more to prove. We have a lot to prove. This
group, I think it’s personal to them.
Look, we’ve got a chance to play a really good A&M team
next week, an SEC opponent, and be back in front of our
fans. I think that this group takes a tremendous amount of
pride in representing the university and all the things that
come with that.
They didn’t feel good about how they did that week 1, and
they’re anxious to get back out there and do it better the
next time.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
University of Florida Football
Media Conference
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Tyreak Sapp
Press Conference
Florida – 45, Samford – 7
Q. How impressive was DJ?
TYREAK SAPP: Oh, man, I love that kid. I already knew
the night was going to be successful for him just by the
way he works and the way he carries himself.
He carries himself like a starter. He carries himself like a
starting quarterback. I didn’t — I honestly almost wasn’t
even surprised because the kid works so hard, and he tries
his best to understand the game. He keeps up with
Graham, and he takes from him.
So I watch that kid closely, and he works super, super
hard. So I already knew what was ahead of him for
tonight.
Q. You guys came out of the gates firing on all
cylinders, forcing a turnover right away, creating all
kinds of pressure in the backfield. What was your
guys’ mindset after obviously a rather turbulent
performance against Miami in week 1? What were you
guys trying to do this week and just set the tone?
TYREAK SAPP: I think get our confidence back because it
did take a shot at our confidence. It took a shot at just the
way we felt about our whole team.
I think just through leadership and the way we carried
ourself throughout this week, we wanted to prove to not
just the Gator fans, but I call them — I love the Gator faithful
because the Gator faithful is what keep me going. They
don’t shy away from us when we do bad or good. They’re
always with us.
But we just wanted to show the Gator faithful that we
actually have this team, and the things that we preach
about, we can actually put that on tape and perform for
them. That was just the main thing, just getting our
confidence back.
Q. Just elaborating on this a little bit more, just how
difficult was the last week after the Miami loss, and
how important was it to kind of wipe the slate clean?
TYREAK SAPP: It was difficult. It was difficult that night.
It was difficult the next day, and it was difficult the next day.
But the thing about this game, it will be difficult regardless
because you’ve got to be able to handle success and
you’ve got to be able to handle the failure as well.
It was difficult, but I feel like we picked ourselves up, and
we said, you know, we dust ourselves off, and we say, you
know what, that’s not us, and that’s not a reflection of the
brand of football we play. That’s not a reflection of our
effort, and that’s not a reflection of our execution.
Q. When you go now after this win, the locker room is
going to be amped up. I’m sure the locker room is
going to be amped up. How does that go into playing
an SEC team next week against A&M?
TYREAK SAPP: As far as?
Q. As a unit now, and you’ve gotten this win and then
the momentum pushing forward.
TYREAK SAPP: Yeah, it’s given us momentum, but I know
we’re going to be realistic with ourselves. We’re going to
enjoy this win obviously, but we’re going to be realistic with
ourselves and fix the things we need to fix and tighten the
bolts in places we need to tighten the bolts at because we
understand there’s better competition ahead, and we’re
going to have to take ten steps forward in order to be
prepared to compete against those guys.
So we understand that, and I think this confidence, we’re
going to let this boost us, and we’re going to enjoy this for
tonight. But when our head comes off our pillow in the
morning, it’s going to be a whole different mindset, and I
think everybody understands that from a leadership
standpoint all the way down to the younger guys.
Q. Head comes off that pillow, I’ll tell you, you’re good,
man. So when you see your coach under fire the way
he’s been — I know you guys really like Billy, you like
how he’s worked with you guys and what he instills,
and to see him under fire like that and people wanting
him gone, does that like — I mean, you got fired up
when people picked you to finish 12th, but does that
kind of motivate you and anger you guys when you’re
seeing that?
TYREAK SAPP: Yes, of course it fires us up because we
believe in everything he has told us. Honestly, he has
never lied to me. He has never lied to this team. So we
believe in the work. We believe in him, and we believe in
what he pushes.
I think that what he pushes is a great thing, and it can get
us success. But I think us as players has to do our part.
We’ve got to be better in certain areas. I think we took
accountability this week, but now it’s time to take action,
like you saw what the accountability did out there. Now
you’re going to see what the action is going to be leading
up to next week and the way we prepare.
Obviously everybody’s going to have something bad to
say. We’re the Gators. Everybody’s going to have
something bad to say when you’re up. Everybody’s going
to have something bad to say when you’re down.
Regardless of that, it is what it is honestly.
Q. Billy mentioned that George Gumbs was a walk-on
receiver and a tight end and a defensive end.
TYREAK SAPP: Oh, man, G-Money.
Q. What’s it been like? What has he brought to y’all’s
room? Can you believe he was a former receiver the
way he gets after the quarterback now?
TYREAK SAPP: Oh, man, G, he’s one of the lights of my
day, man. He’s one of the purest people you could ever
meet, but the kid works so hard. I call him the Avenger
because he is literally built like an Avenger. If you see him
take his shirt off, you would think he was probably in the
penitentiary for about a few years.
(Laughter).
The kid just works that hard. When he came in, he came
in ready to learn. He came in ready to soak in. What he’s
done from when he got here till now, it’s incredible. I love
that dude because he comes in every day ready to work.
He’s trying to find some ways to get better. I kind of know
his journey, know his story, where he came from at NIU
and how that went for him.
Where he’s at now, it’s incredible. He’s a freak of nature. I
call him a super hero. He’s an Avenger.
And congratulations as well. Congratulations, man, on the
baby girl.
Q. Tyreak, you mentioned, obviously you guys get the
turnover, first drive of the game. Just talk about is that
when things immediately just switched for the defense,
getting the fumble, first forced fumble of the season?
TYREAK SAPP: That was like a great thing, but I feel like
this defense, what I love about us, we’re never satisfied.
Like things like that happen, and we kind of almost put it —
not like put it behind us, but we kind of almost forget about
it in a way because we want more.
We understand we can do so much more. We can be so
much more dominant. We just have to continue to get to
understand each other and continue to work together as a
defense.
I think tonight was a great stepping stone to doing that, and
I know this week we’re going to work our tails off to get
ready to pull this one off on Saturday.
Like this defense is hungry. That’s what I love about them.
They are never satisfied, and we always want more. That’s
just the big thing. That’s what I love about this defense.
Q. You mentioned obviously you started with DJ firing
really on all cylinders, especially in the second half.
Talk about as a defense, you guys get a stop, and then
all of a sudden the offense is building a lead.
Essentially compared to last week where it was almost
the opposite. How, I guess, uplifting was it for the unit
to see that?
TYREAK SAPP: Yes, it’s uplifting. I feel like you go into a
game like this, I always tell my guys, I tell the whole team,
don’t disappoint them. A team like that is coming in here,
and they know what’s about to happen, but you can’t
disappoint them, though, because when you disappoint
them, you give teams like that hope.
I don’t want a team like that walking away from here even
have a thought in your mind, you can’t have a thought in
your mind that you can beat me. In your dreams, when
you wake up, I don’t care who you look at. No, I want you
to be like, I could never, ever beat them no matter what I
did.
So I always tell the guys, it’s expected. Not one fan walked
out of there and was worried about us failing or losing,
unless you wanted us to lose. Other than that, yeah.
Q. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but there was a video
posted a couple days ago of you looking into your
locker after the loss to Miami. It seems with your
answer you take these things very personally, you take
football personally. With that said, what went into this
week with your preparation heading into this game?
TYREAK SAPP: I think being calmer. I’m a very high
tempo, excited guy. I think calming everything down and
kind of waiting until I get to the game to kind of wind myself
up.
Of course I love this game, and I love my brothers. It’s
more so the football is one part. I like football. I love my
team. That’s just the honest to God truth.
I want to make sure I put something out there that they can
be proud of, and I want to be somebody they can trust.
When I’m on the field with Sapp, he’s going to give me his
all and make sure he takes care of his.
Q. Having gone against both quarterbacks in the
spring and the fall, how potent do you think this
offense can be utilizing both Graham and DJ?
TYREAK SAPP: I say pick your poison. You want to get
bit by a rattlesnake, or you want to get bit by a king cobra?
Pick your poison. Either way, I think you’re going to die.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
University of Florida Football
Media Conference
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Gainesville, Florida, USA
DJ Lagway
Press Conference
Florida – 45, Samford – 7
Q. Good to meet you. Quite a debut there. Billy’s
talked about just the way you kind of rise to the
occasion. What was your mindset going into the
game, and how do you think you performed?
DJ LAGWAY: My mindset was take advantage of the
opportunity to go out there and compete with the heck of
the players around me. I feel like the preparation that
Coach O’Hara, Coach Napier, even Graham, helped me a
lot making sure I was prepared. So that was good.
Q. Of all those deep throws, which one stands out in
your mind? Because there were several very good
ones.
DJ LAGWAY: I would say the one to Tank Hawkins.
That’s one of my best friends here. So it was a real
moment to get our first touchdown together. That was
pretty cool.
Q. The touchdown you threw to Mizell, can you just
walk me through that play? It kind of broke down a
little bit and it looked like you were going to take off
and run, but you kept your eyes downfield. Seemed
like a lot of arm talent to get that ball off balance and
get it out there.
DJ LAGWAY: On that play, just trust my receiver. My man
is better than their man. That’s the biggest thing. We’d
been working since January, so I have trust in Aidan
among all my other receivers, so yeah.
Q. You got to run out of the tunnel last week, but does
it feel different running out when you’re the starting
quarterback? What were the two different feelings you
had running out of the tunnel this week and last week?
DJ LAGWAY: It was a big difference. I was like really
nervous. So it was pretty cool to experience kind of both
sides of it. It was fun, yeah.
Q. Obviously there was just tremendous amount of
hype in The Swamp today. I’m sure you heard the DJ
Lagway chants midway through the game. What does
that mean to you, all the excitement you generated
among the Florida fan base? What does it mean to see
that translate directly on the field as soon as you take
over?
DJ LAGWAY: First off, without God, none of that would
have been possible, the performance I had. Without my
O-linemen blocking for me, without the leaders and the
veteran guys being there for me, telling me they got me
whatever happens, good or bad. I felt like that was
something big.
My receivers making plays. Defense, they played their
butts off in the first half, even the whole game really. I feel
like just the whole team aspect and the whole team effort
came into play today.
Q. Finished the day with 456 yards, top 10 all time for
a single game performance for the Gators. Did it cross
your mind at any point you were having a record
breaking performance, or were you just locked into the
task at hand?
DJ LAGWAY: I was just locked into the task at hand. My
coach is telling me one play at a time. That’s what it is, just
executing one play at a time. Just getting my guys
involved, just getting everybody involved with the ball,
that’s the biggest thing.
Q. The difference obviously, you kind of came in last
week at the end, got a touchdown on one of your
drives. You’re starting this week. Does it take a while
to really get used to what you’ve been practicing all
week? Last week was only a small sample size. When
did you really start feeling comfortable out there
today? Or was it right from the start?
DJ LAGWAY: I would say it’s right from the start. I feel like
Coach Napier prepared us. He got us prepared. I feel like
it’s every week. Even Miami, I feel like he prepared us a
lot.
I just feel like everything they did, we knew what they were
going to do before they did it. I feel like it’s just
preparation.
Q. Sort of on that note, do you think getting that little
bit of playing time last week, leading the team on the
touchdown drive, how much did that help you feeling
ready right from the get go today?
DJ LAGWAY: That definitely helped with my confidence. I
just wanted to feel how it felt to get tackled in college and
just see how it is on the field with like the crowd noise,
90,000 in the stands. I never had that in high school. So I
just wanted to see how that was.
After that first and second play, just the feeling, yeah, I can
really do this, that was definitely a big confidence booster.
Q. We talked about the touchdowns to Tank, to Aidan.
Elijhah obviously had the long catch. Really did a
great job of getting the receivers involved. Was that
something that you were going to try to — during the
week were thinking you really wanted to do, or it just
sort of worked out that way?
DJ LAGWAY: It just sort of worked out that way. I feel like
I’ve got a great relationship with every guy. I know what
they want, I know what they like, what routes they like the
best. I think that just comes down to the relationship I have
with those guys individually.
Q. Coach Napier said multiple times the best thing for
your development was Graham Mertz deciding to come
back. I know it’s only been eight months, but how
involved was he today in helping you through what
you were seeing out there?
DJ LAGWAY: Graham is the best thing that could ever
happen to me. Him being here, just learning from a
veteran player himself, it’s been amazing to learn and to
see how to do things right. He’s a true professional, and
that’s what I want to be when I get older.
Q. DJ, take us through the first throw to Elijhah on the
out and up. You kind of had the defense moving really
where you wanted them, so you had your pick of
where you wanted to go. What kind of made you just
take your time and let it go to Elijhah early in the game
like that?
DJ LAGWAY: Just really following my rules, you know.
Each play has rules to it, following progressions, and that
was on the progression first, so you might as well take it.
Q. What did you learn about yourself this week?
DJ LAGWAY: What I learned about myself is that — that’s
a great question. What I learned about myself is really just
that I can adapt to anything. Just be ready for any
opportunity that comes my way. I’ve never been put in a
situation like this before, like where things could just flip
like this, but it’s a blessing.
I feel like I learned so much this week. It’s been a lot of
battle testing this week, and it’s been good, though.
Q. DJ, on that note, Billy told us that you’ve been
dealing with an injury that held you back a little bit in
practice. How difficult was that to go through wanting
to get all the reps that you could but having to wait
until you could get that green light?
DJ LAGWAY: Yeah, that was really difficult. That
definitely was messing with my mental a little bit. I had a
little something going on before the Miami game with my
shoulder. So it was just like just got to be ready for my
opportunity, and I wasn’t going to let a shoulder lose the
opportunity.
So I just feel like I’ve got to stay getting healthy and
continue to get better, and just working on my feet work
and reps and stuff like that.
Q. I know you said, I think during Under Armour week,
that you coming in with the mindset to start, that that
was your goal, and if it didn’t work out that way, you
would play whatever role. Now that you’ve gotten that
opportunity, is that something you still want to keep
chasing? Obviously the decision will be up to Coach,
but how does that change your mindset now moving
forward?
DJ LAGWAY: I just want to do what’s best for the team.
Whatever the team needs me to do, that’s what I’m going
to do. If I got to carry the ball however many times to get
wins in the column, that’s what I’ve got to do.
Q. It’s been a whirlwind in here. You got to meet
Emmitt Smith in January and so forth and have really
been on campus for close to a year now. What have
you done to try to stay grounded, and how has that
development process been to kind of prepare you for
this moment?
DJ LAGWAY: It’s just stay grounded. As a kid, I’ve always
been taught what God gives, He can also take. I just
definitely stay humble and give God all the glory because
without Him I’m nothing. That’s just the biggest thing with
me. So I just give Him all the glory because I know that’s
where my source of power is coming from.
Q. We talked about the fans cheering you on, but how
is that locker room when you first came in and
everyone is supporting you on such a great night?
DJ LAGWAY: It’s a blessing to have such a great
supporting cast as my teammates around me. They see
me at my lows. They see me at my highs. It’s been great
to see them rally behind me this week and see the
leadership from the veteran guys that come around me and
support me. It’s been amazing.
Q. Next week Texas A&M, a college you’re probably
very familiar with, right down the road, just what will
that mean to go up and face a school you’ve probably
seen play a hundred times?
DJ LAGWAY: It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a surreal
moment. I’m just excited for that moment. It’s going to be
fun to put them in The Swamp. It’s going to be fun.
Q. Obviously there’s a lot of hype, a lot going on
around you right now, but it’s easy to forget that you’re
just a true freshman that’s just stepped foot onto
campus a few months ago. How have you been able to
take all this in so quickly and just apply everything
you’ve learned onto the field and into the locker room
right away?
DJ LAGWAY: I would say my coaches. My coaches have
been hard on me since day one. They’ve molded me, and
they’re going to continue to coach me hard.
That’s what I love about Coach Napier and his staff.
They’re going to coach me hard and make sure I’m getting
better each and every day. They’re not going to let nothing
little slip by, and that’s what I love about them.
Q. During your recruitment, you could have went
anywhere in the country, and you decided to come
here and stayed solid throughout your decision. Why
were you so firm with Florida? What is it about Napier
and his staff that made you want to be here?
DJ LAGWAY: It really is two things. Coach Napier, of
course, and the fan base. The fan base has shown me
love since day one. I’m a Gator through and through.
Appreciate you. Go Gators.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
2024 Florida Football Postgame Quotes
Florida Student-Athletes
Florida 45, Samford 7
September 7, 2024
3 Eugene Wilson III, Sophomore Wide Receiver
On how the offense performed under DJ Lagway…
“We were firing on all cylinders when we came out of the locker room for that second half, so we
[were] just having fun.”
On how Lagway handled his first start…
“Before the game, I had to let him know, all them plays you make in high school, like this offense
revolves around you. You are the leader, so go out and just do what you do. Like every time I look up
at the stat board it just kept flying up. That total number of yards was crazy.”
On what happened on that shovel pass…
“I just seen a little opening. I saw out of the corner of my eye that if I could hit a little, you know, a little
stick with that distance between us two, that I would be able to hit that second gear and that’s what
happened.”
On what was different in the second half…
“We just started airing the ball out a little more and got the crowd into it, and you know, once we
had that confidence rolling, had that thing firing on all cylinders.”
On how much he liked the shovel pass play…
“You know, we had a look that we liked and being able to have that little opening was definitely one
of my favorite plays, because you know it was just an easy give-me.”
On DJ’s chemistry with the receivers…
“He was just out there playing backyard ball. You know that ball to Mizell, that junk was crazy cause
he just stepped and to be honest, I was wide open on the play but he just scrambled it out and
flicked it up like he knew Aidan down there somewhere and he just threw it right in the pocket. Like
that placement was unbelievable.”
On how DJ throws the deep ball so well…
“It just easy, you know he a big dude and he not just big but he strong too, so he just got the little
flick.”
On the fans’ excitement for DJ…
“It came a lot sooner than expected, so I think he exceeded a lot of people’s expectations tonight
and that chant, you know, it was nothing less than what he deserved.”
On who he thinks will play quarterback the rest of the season….
“At the end of the day, it is what it takes to win. With Graham [Mertz] coming back you know he does
what he does. If DJ [Lagway] is still there then he will do what he does. Either way everyone is going
to support each other. We are trying to win.”
On what a win tonight does for the rest of the season…
“It is just something to build on. Obviously that first half was kind of slow, but getting things going in the
second half, we definitely saw we had a good thing firing. We can definitely build from this next
week.”
On the wide receivers today…
“All the recruiting we did, out of the transfer portal and high school, you have to put it on the field.
We have a whole bunch of talent at the wideout position. We put a showcase on the field today.”
On the 85-yard touchdown reception…
“I saw that opening and had to hit it. I hit that second gear. Either way, I knew I was getting to the
endzone.”
On playing Jaydon Hill and Scooby Williams next week…
“I have been waiting ever since they left. At the end of the day, those are my guys. We compete and
that’s how it is going to be on the field.”
2024 Florida Football Postgame Quotes
Chris Hatcher, Samford Head Coach
Florida 45, Samford 7
September 7, 2024
Opening statement…
“I was real excited about the way our guys played. I thought we battled hard; we kept it real close
early in the game, that was our goal to shorten the game. Get one at half; fourth down, two
touchdowns which was kind of, I shouldn’t say our plan, that was what we wanted to do and then
the third quarter, just gave up some big plays but thought we did some good things. And on both
sides of the ball, we gave up too many big plays and there at the end of the second quarter, we just
couldn’t sustain drives and then that was the difference in the ballgame. Florida’s got a really good
team. I’m excited about where our team is headed and looking forward to seeing us play against
some like-competition next week.”
On takeaways from this weekend…
“Well, I thought we played hard. We did some good things execution-wise against a team that was
better than us, but we still have a lot of work to do to clean some things up, especially on the
defensive side there. Had a few busts but, again, we played a really good football team that was
really athletic. But I told the team after the game that what we’re doing now, I think we took a step in
the right direction following our defeat in Week 1.”
