Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands with fans during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The Gators defeated the Tigers 27-16. Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway makes history with high-profile NIL deal

Originally posted on CFB-HQ on SI | By Michael Ehrlich | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 3:45 PM ET

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway etched his name in the record books on the field a season ago - with the most wins as a true freshman since Chris Leak - and his new NIL partnership makes history off of the field with a worldwide footwear brand.

The sophomore sensation has signed with Nike's Jordan Brand - becoming their first NIL quarterback - joining the likes of Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott on the NFL side. Lagway's NIL counterparts include Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, UCLA guard Kiki Rice and Rutgers guard Kiyomi McMiller.

Lagway now also becomes the first college athlete from a Jordan-sponsored school to sign with the brand. The quarterback and Jordan Brand announced the partnership with a collaboration post on Instagram ahead of the Gators' season-opener on Aug. 30.

Taking over for Graham Mertz last season, Lagway now begins his sophomore campaign as QB1 and is featured on watch lists for such awards as the Davey O'Brien, Walter Camp, Wuerffel Trophy and Maxwell, among others.

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Lagway played in 12 games as a freshman, throwing for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns with the top passing rating amongst all true freshmen. Off of the field, he has established himself - alongside NETWORK CEO Justin J. Giangrande - as one of the top returning athletes in NIL featuring partnerships with the likes of Chipotle, Beats by Dre, EA Sports, and T-Mobile. among others. Additionally, the Heisman candidate was recently named one of the most marketable athletes of the Fall sports season by athlete marketing intelligence platform Out2Win.

The No. 11 Gators and Lagway kick off the season on Aug. 30 when they host Long Island University.

This article first appeared on CFB-HQ on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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