Anonymous SEC coach believes DJ Lagway could compete with Arch Manning as league’s top QB

DJ Lagway enters his sophomore season in 2025 under a microscope. The expectation is for him to be an elite signal caller in college football, and for him to make a massive leap forward in his first full year as Florida‘s starting quarterback.

Lagway has drawn praise across the board for the abilities he showcased as a true freshman, not to mention his 6-1 record as a starter. Coming in as a five-star prospect, Lagway has lived up to expectations thus far. Many around the league, including some coaches, believe that he’ll continue to turn heads in 2025.

Lagway could compete with Arch [Manning] for best QB in the league,” one anonymous SEC coach told Athlon Sports.

Manning is set to take over the reigns as starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns after sitting behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons. Also a former five-star recruit, it’s clear that both quarterbacks are expected to be great right away in 2025.

Another coach said that if Lagway can stay healthy, there’s no reason why Florida can’t improve. A third said that Lagway and the offensive line appear to be “legit enough” to bring Florida back to its days as a top SEC offense.