Florida's DJ Lagway Benched for Tramell Jones Jr., Scouting Report on True Freshman QB
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has been benched in favor of true freshman Tramell Jones Jr.
Jones stepped in for Lagway midway through Saturday night's game at Kentucky. The Gators were trailing 24-7 at the half.
247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins described Jones last November as an "experienced pocket passer with no shortage of arm talent" who has "impressed time and time again at offseason events with his accuracy and mechanics as he peppered all three levels of the field with precision."
On3 director of scouting Charles Power described Jones last December as "a pure pocket passer who is at his best when he can sit back and distribute the ball to surrounding playmakers."
Jones beat out redshirt sophomore Aidan Warner and redshirt senior Harrison Bailey for second place on Florida's depth chart ahead of his first college season.
He then made his college debut in Florida's season-opening blowout of LIU on Aug. 30.
Lagway had already led the Gators to a 38-0 lead by the time Jones stepped in again LIU. He closed out the 55-0 win by going 12-for-18 with 131 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 14 yards on five carries.
"I think it's been impressive to watch him. I think he's intelligent. I think he's got some presence, some maturity. It's not too big for him. He's very coachable," former Florida head coach Billy Napier said about Jones after the win over LIU (h/t 247Sports' Zach Goodall). "I think early he struggled with bodies, the big bodies in the pocket... and I think once he kind of got comfortable with keeping his eyes down the field and working the pocket, he has continued to impress us.
"So extremely accurate, and the spin rate and velocity on the ball is elite. So I don't think he missed very much the other night. The ball went where it was supposed to go every time."
Interim head coach Billy Gonzales will now hope to see that level of accuracy from Jones in his second college appearance after watching Lagway throw three interceptions in the first half against Kentucky.
Lagway already went into the game having recorded an SEC-high nine interceptions in his first eight games of the season.
Florida started out the 2025 season with a 3-4 record behind Napier, then lost their first game under Gonzales to No. 5 Georgia.
Gonzales will hope slotting in Jones can help spark a better second half Saturday. His performance against the Wildcats could also impact whether Florida turns back to Lagway or gives Jones another shot during the final three games of the season.
