Florida QB Commit DJ Lagway Invited to Elite 11 Finals

Following a one-year absence from the event, the Gators will be represented at the Elite 11 Finals this offseason in the form of quarterback commitment DJ Lagway.

Prized Florida quarterback commitment DJ Lagway earned an invitation to the class of 2024 Elite 11 Finals on Tuesday, securing his spot among 20 of the nation's best passers in the annual competition set to take place in Los Angeles, Calif. this summer. 

WELCOME TO THE 𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝟏𝟏 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐒, @DerekLagway! pic.twitter.com/4YNb0dvQbL

— Elite11 (@Elite11) May 23, 2023

"Let's work!!" Lagway tweeted in response to the invitation. 

Viewed as the quarterback of Florida's future and arguably head coach Billy Napier's most important program commitment to date, Lagway will battle against 19 arms from the class of 2024 in the annual three-day series of passing tournaments on the West Coast. 

11 prospects will be tabbed among the country's "elite" quarterbacks in the current recruiting cycle by the end of the event, with the top performer taking home MVP honors. 

Lagway, 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, is considered the No. 3 quarterback and No. 20 overall prospect in the class of 2024 per the 247Sports composite rankings. He's produced 3,660 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and seven interceptions in two seasons as Willis (Texas) High's starting signal-caller, adding 1,232 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

He committed to Florida over fellow finalists in his recruitment — Southern California, Clemson and Texas A&M — on Dec. 7, 2022. 

Florida did not have a quarterback commitment featured at the Elite 11 Finals a year ago, breaking a three-year streak in which the Gators were represented at the event by a signal-calling pledge. Class of 2023 contestants Marcus Stokes and Jaden Rashada temporarily committed to Florida after the finals last year, but ultimately, neither enrolled at UF. 

The Elite 11 has invited the following prospects to its final competition, with 10 spots remaining open at press time: 

• Julian Sayin, Carlsbad (Calif.) High, Alabama commit
• Trever Jackson, Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange, uncommitted
• Luke Kromenhoek, Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School, FSU commit
• CJ Carr, Saline (Mich.) High, Notre Dame commit
• Dylan Raiola, Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle, uncommitted
• Colin Hurley, Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian, LSU commit
• Air Noland, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes, Ohio State commit
• Ethan Grunkemeyer, Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy, Penn State commit
• Elijah Brown, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, uncommitted 
• DJ Lagway, Willis (Texas) High, Florida commit 

Dates and the location for the upcoming Elite 11 Finals have yet to be announced. 

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