Why Florida football QB DJ Lagway started his foundation and why he’s targeting women’s sports

Why Florida football QB DJ Lagway started his foundation and why he’s targeting women’s sports

Portrait of Kevin Brockway

AI-assisted summary

Lagway comes from a family with a history of giving back, as his grandmother served on the school board and helped those in need.

Lagway was inspired to start his foundation after the NCAA allowed student-athletes to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness in 2021.

Several of Lagway’s teammates showed their support by attending the fundraiser.

Giving back is nothing new to Florida football quarterback DJ Lagway. In fact, it’s in his genes.

 

Lagway’s paternal grandmother, the late Eddie Ruth Lagway, was a longtime member of the school board in Willis, Texas, and was known to help needy families with expenses ranging from food to clothing to college tuition.

 

“I want to do the same thing,” Lagway said. “Just be able to leave my mark outside of football.”

 

Lagway launched his charitable foundation on Monday night with a kickoff dinner/fundraiser at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille. Among items auctioned off at the event was a signed artwork likeness of the Florida Gators sophomore star quarterback, which sold for $8,000.

 

A former 2023 Gatorade Football Player of the Year, Lagway arrived at UF with high expectations. Lagway met them after being thrust into a starting role as a true freshman after Graham Mertz went down with a torn ACL last October. He went 6-1 as a starter, passing for 1,915 yards with 12 TDs to nine interceptions. This spring, Florida is taking a cautious approach with Lagway, as he’s taken part in camp but has yet to throw due to shoulder and lower body issues.

 

Lagway said starting a foundation has been on his mind since he first arrived on UF’s campus. In high school, Lagway volunteered in his hometown of Willis with turkey drives and backpack for kids, providing children in need with quality backpacks and school supplies.

 

“I had to prove myself on the field first and just continue to prove myself on the field, continue to get better,” Lagway said. “But also using my platform and my notoriety to spread a bigger cause than football.”

 

Starting a charitable foundation was something that was unfathomable for a college athlete before the NCAA allowed student-athletes to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness in 2021.

 

“NIL is definitely a blessing for me and my family for other families and kids around the country,” Lagway said. “It’s just how you utilize it. You’ve got to be able to utilize it well, and you’ve got to be able to just help not just you and your family but others. That’s the biggest thing I want to accomplish.”

 

Florida football DJ Lagway making sizeable donation to UF women’s sports

Lagway announced over this weekend his intention to make a six-figure donation to Florida Victorious toward UF women’s sports programs including softball, gymnastics, volleyball and women’s basketball.

 

“I just wanted to bring an awareness to a cause,” Lagway said. “I feel like female athletes, women athletes, don’t get the recognition that they deserve always. Just being able to use my platform and be able to do something as little as that, kind of bring awareness and a cause to people.”

 

Lagway received support from a handful of teammates who attended the event, which included offensive lineman Rod Kearney, linebacker Myles Graham and defensive lineman D’Antre Robinson.

 

“I’ve got amazing teammates,” Lagway said. “Without my teammates, we wouldn’t be sitting here talking. I’m just thankful for my guys around me because they are the reason why all this is happening; they are probably a big reason.”

 

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1