Gators QB DJ Lagway is the top prospect in Florida's 2024 signing class. (Photo: UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Lagway Racks up Awards, Kimber to Depart, Dunlap Praises Chatman Hire
Friday, December 22, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The awards continue to pile up for incoming Gators quarterback DJ Lagway, the No. 1-ranked prospect in Florida's 2024 signing class.
Lagway was named Mr. Texas Football on Friday afternoon, which annually recognizes the most outstanding high school player in the state. Lagway was named the Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club earlier in the day, an award billed as the high school Heisman. Former UF quarterback Chris Leak won the award in 2002 and Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves in 2012.
Lagway was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year on Monday after a decorated career at Willis (Texas) High School. He will be honored as Mr. Texas Football on the field at the Texas Bowl between Oklahoma State and Texas A&M on Wednesday.
Gators head coach Billy Napier placed an urgency on signing Lagway to build around in the future.
"The biggest compliment I can give DJ is that, as much attention as he has received throughout the recruiting process, he's a better human being, he's a better leader,'' Napier said. "His character, his faith, his example, the way he treats people, his work ethic, his focus, his drive to get better.
"There's substance to him. Ultimately, we all know DJ's talented, but that's not what makes him exceptional, in my opinion. It's these intangible things that make him a difference maker."
Lagway led Willis a 12-1 season and reached the regional semifinals before falling to eventual state champion DeSoto. Lagway set the Texas Class 6A single-season record for passing yards (4,606). He finished his senior season with a career-best 957 yards rushing and totaled 74 touchdowns (58 passing, 16 rushing). For his four-year career at Willis, Lagway totaled 8,392 passing yards, 2,196 rushing yards, 100 passing touchdowns and 29 rushing scores.
Lagway is scheduled to join the Gators as a mid-year enrollee.
KIMBER TO TRANSFER
Gators cornerback Jalen Kimber has entered the transfer portal. He is the 17th UF player to enter the portal since the end of Florida's 5-7 season.
Kimber participated in Senior Day in the final regular-season game and is scheduled to earn his undergraduate degree by summer. A fourth-year junior, Kimber started 11 games last season and finished with 23 tackles, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery. His most notable contribution in two seasons with the Gators was an interception return for a touchdown in a home win over USF in 2022.
Kimber, who is from Mansfield, Texas, signed with Georgia out of high school and after limited playing time in two seasons with the Bulldogs, transferred to Florida.
Kimber's departure opens the door to more playing time for returning cornerbacks Devin Moore, Ja'Keem Jackson, Dijon Johnson, Aaron Gates and Sharif Denson.
An update on Gators in the transfer portal (**updated 12/30/23**):
DUNLAP PRAISES CHATMAN
The Gators announced the hire of Gerald Chatman as defensive line coach on Saturday. Chatman replaced Sean Spencer, who was dismissed earlier this month and is now at Texas A&M.
Chatman has experience in both the NFL and the Southeastern Conference. While with the Cincinnati Bengals part of 2019-20, he worked with former Gators standout defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap.
Dunlap gave the hire two thumbs up.
"Gator Nation, we got another one," he said. "Coach "G" Chatman is definitely one of the most influential coaches, I'd say, [that] impacted my career as an NFL player when he was an assistant coach. But as the defensive line coach at Florida now, I'm even more excited for him. If I was a young player hungry to learn, compete in SEC against the best of the best with a coach I know is committed to helping me be the best player and the best man, I'm headed back to the Swamp again."
Lagway was named Mr. Texas Football on Friday afternoon, which annually recognizes the most outstanding high school player in the state. Lagway was named the Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club earlier in the day, an award billed as the high school Heisman. Former UF quarterback Chris Leak won the award in 2002 and Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves in 2012.
Lagway was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year on Monday after a decorated career at Willis (Texas) High School. He will be honored as Mr. Texas Football on the field at the Texas Bowl between Oklahoma State and Texas A&M on Wednesday.
Gators head coach Billy Napier placed an urgency on signing Lagway to build around in the future.
"The biggest compliment I can give DJ is that, as much attention as he has received throughout the recruiting process, he's a better human being, he's a better leader,'' Napier said. "His character, his faith, his example, the way he treats people, his work ethic, his focus, his drive to get better.
"There's substance to him. Ultimately, we all know DJ's talented, but that's not what makes him exceptional, in my opinion. It's these intangible things that make him a difference maker."
Lagway led Willis a 12-1 season and reached the regional semifinals before falling to eventual state champion DeSoto. Lagway set the Texas Class 6A single-season record for passing yards (4,606). He finished his senior season with a career-best 957 yards rushing and totaled 74 touchdowns (58 passing, 16 rushing). For his four-year career at Willis, Lagway totaled 8,392 passing yards, 2,196 rushing yards, 100 passing touchdowns and 29 rushing scores.
Lagway is scheduled to join the Gators as a mid-year enrollee.
Gators cornerback Jalen Kimber has entered the transfer portal. He is the 17th UF player to enter the portal since the end of Florida's 5-7 season.
Kimber participated in Senior Day in the final regular-season game and is scheduled to earn his undergraduate degree by summer. A fourth-year junior, Kimber started 11 games last season and finished with 23 tackles, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery. His most notable contribution in two seasons with the Gators was an interception return for a touchdown in a home win over USF in 2022.
Kimber, who is from Mansfield, Texas, signed with Georgia out of high school and after limited playing time in two seasons with the Bulldogs, transferred to Florida.
Kimber's departure opens the door to more playing time for returning cornerbacks Devin Moore, Ja'Keem Jackson, Dijon Johnson, Aaron Gates and Sharif Denson.
An update on Gators in the transfer portal (**updated 12/30/23**):
| PLAYER | POS. | TRANSFER DESTINATION |
| Jonathan Odom | TE | Eastern Michigan |
| Princely Umanmielen | DL | Ole Miss |
| Jadarrius Perkins | DB | Toledo |
| Max Brown | QB | Charlotte |
| Kamari Wilson | S | Arizona State |
| Jordan Herman | OL | Charlotte |
| Caleb Douglas | WR | Texas Tech |
| Jalen Farmer | OL | Kentucky |
| Trevor Etienne | RB | Georgia |
| Adam Mihalek | K | N/A |
| Will Norman | DL | N/A |
| Chris McClellan | DL | Missouri |
| Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman | WR | N/A |
| Miguel Mitchell | S | Arkansas |
| Andrew Savaiinaea | TE | Nevada |
| Keenan Landry | DL | Louisiana Tech |
| Jalen Kimber | CB | Penn State |
| Micah Mazzccua | OL | Nebraska |
| Jaydon Hill | DB | Texas A&M |
| Scooby Williams | LB | Texas A&M |
| Mannie Nunnery | LB | N/A |
| Richie Leonard IV | OL | Florida State |
DUNLAP PRAISES CHATMAN
The Gators announced the hire of Gerald Chatman as defensive line coach on Saturday. Chatman replaced Sean Spencer, who was dismissed earlier this month and is now at Texas A&M.
Chatman has experience in both the NFL and the Southeastern Conference. While with the Cincinnati Bengals part of 2019-20, he worked with former Gators standout defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap.
Dunlap gave the hire two thumbs up.
"Gator Nation, we got another one," he said. "Coach "G" Chatman is definitely one of the most influential coaches, I'd say, [that] impacted my career as an NFL player when he was an assistant coach. But as the defensive line coach at Florida now, I'm even more excited for him. If I was a young player hungry to learn, compete in SEC against the best of the best with a coach I know is committed to helping me be the best player and the best man, I'm headed back to the Swamp again."
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