ORLANDO – Within the days main as much as Nationwide Signing Day and within the wee hours earlier than he signed, DJ Lagway was nonetheless courting coaches who wished to flip him from Florida.
New Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein made the toughest pitch down the stretch. USC coach Lincoln Riley got here in late and tried to get him. Even Clemson’s Dabo Swinney obtained involved.
“It was loopy,” Lagway mentioned at Below Armour Sport media day. “I had faculties hitting me up all day and all evening. Coach Riley, coach Swinney, even coach Elko, they undoubtedly put their final thing in and it undoubtedly had me pondering to the final second however general I selected the Florida Gators.
“It undoubtedly would have taken lots particularly with Texas A&M due to the brand new teaching employees and all that however I’m 100% locked in with the Florida Gators. It had me pondering a bit of bit however I prayed and talked to God and it led me general to sticking with the Gators.”
The message from these different coaches was what Lagway was pondering within the first place – and it helped solidify his dedication with Florida.
“They tried to inform me to go the place my coronary heart was,” Lagway mentioned. “I really feel like I did. I undoubtedly constructed nice relationships with coach Elko and coach Klein even and we ended up on good phrases so I really feel prefer it was good.”
The Aggies gave the toughest pitch.
“I’d say Texas A&M,” Lagway mentioned. “USC got here on the finish, they had been form of late on the again finish of it. When coach Elko obtained in I used to be the primary man they hit up however it was these two.”
The stress was on Lagway down the stretch. The Willis, Texas standout was attempting to get flipped by different coaches – and even directors at his personal faculty.
“Particularly with A&M,” Lagway mentioned. “My faculty is like half-hour from A&M so all of the lecturers, the coaches, the principals, they’re all A&M die-hard. There have been folks all around the faculty telling me to go to A&M, A&M, A&M. I needed to make the correct determination for me, not for anyone else, for me.”
And that was Florida. That’s the place his coronary heart is – and the place he shall be in only some days. However Lagway didn’t let Billy Napier know till the ultimate few hours that he was completely sticking with the Gators.
By way of all of it, Florida was the place Lagway wished to be.
“I let (Napier) know that evening round 11 o’clock that evening,” Lagway mentioned. “I’m excited. I can’t wait to be taught from him.
“They didn’t actually should promote their pitch. It was constructing that relationship and that I’m the man they see their future with. I wish to go someplace I’m wished in order that’s the massive factor.
“I’m able to get to work. I nonetheless have quite a lot of growth left. I can’t wait to start out this journey. I’m excited.”
