Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has been named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list, becoming one of 102 college football players considered early contenders for this honor. The award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who has strong connections to Texas.
The award is named after Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Earl Campbell, a Tyler native and former Texas Longhorns standout. Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 and is regarded as one of college football’s legendary running backs.
Lagway qualifies for consideration due to his background as a former standout at Willis High School, north of Houston. He is among 31 quarterbacks included on this year’s preseason watch list.
During his freshman season at Florida, Lagway started seven games and appeared in all 12 contests. He led the team to a 6-1 record when he was starting quarterback and helped the Gators finish with an 8-5 overall record. Lagway passed for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing nearly sixty percent of his passes. He also matched Chris Leak’s school mark for most wins by a true freshman quarterback and led all FBS true freshmen with a passer rating of 154.9.
The process for selecting the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recipient will continue through the football season, with semifinalists announced in November and finalists revealed in December. A committee made up of broadcasters, journalists, former players, and fans will choose the winner.
The recognition highlights growing expectations for Lagway entering his second year at Florida.
