Carter’s Corner: Lagway’s Day Cut Short in Under Armour All-America Game, Graham and Chiles Shine

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the starting quarterback for Team Fire in Wednesday afternoon’s Under-Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Gators highly-touted quarterback signee DJ Lagway led his team on a scoring drive against Team Ice.

However, you could say it was an icy day for Lagway and Team Fire in a 39-9 loss at Camping World Stadium. Lagway ended the game with an ice pack on his right foot.

Before leaving after the first quarter with an injury, Lagway completed 5 of 10 passes for 46 yards. He added a 15-yard run for a first down on Team Fire’s opening drive, a seven-play, 37-yard march that resulted in a field goal.

Afterward, Lagway told the Orlando Sentinel that he had a sprained foot and would have X-rays on Thursday. He is scheduled to arrive in town with his family on Thursday as the highest-rated prospect in Florida’s 2024 signing class.

🐊 pic.twitter.com/ZzgaKF23t1

— Keith Niebuhr (@On3Keith) January 4, 2024

(Photo: DJ Lagway, Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham after Wednesday’s Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando)

The No. 2-ranked quarterback in the country according to 247Sports, Lagway signed with Florida after throwing for 58 touchdowns and more than 4,600 yards as a senior at Willis (Texas) High. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas and is one of three finalists for the National Gatorade Player of the Year, which will be announced Friday.

Lagway split reps with Penn State signee Ethan Grunkemeyer and South Carolina signee Dante Reno. He completed his first pass of the game but faced constant pressure in his two series.

Lagway told reporters he rolled his ankle on a run, and then later in the game, a defender stepped on the foot during a pass play.

 

DJ Lagway’s NIL representative @djackson_legacy on #Gators 5-star QB signee:

‘He’s going to fine.’

Jackson told me someone stepped on Lagway’s foot.

‘I told him to shut it down. It was bothering him enough it was effecting how he plays the game.’

— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) January 4, 2024

While Lagway’s outing was brief during a game shown live on ESPN, providing many Gators fans their first opportunity to watch him play, Florida fans got a preview of what linebacker signees Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles offer. Both showed they can move in space and are physical players.

Graham led Team Fire with five tackles, including a sack, while Chiles finished with three tackles and two fumble recoveries. Chiles scored Team Fire’s only touchdown in the fourth quarter…