Billy Gonzales addresses decision to bench DJ Lagway, QB plans for Ole Miss game
By David Wasson
Published:
The Florida Gators continued their 2025 downward spiral in Week 11, falling to Kentucky 38-7 in Lexington – the Wildcats’ first home SEC victory in over 2 years.
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway was a big contributor to the offensive malaise, going 11-for-19 for just 83 yards with 3 interceptions before being benched at halftime in favor of backup Tramell Jones Jr.
Florida interim coach Billy Gonzales, in his second game at the helm replacing the fired Billy Napier, addressed Lagway’s benching after the game.
“Well that was my decision. I think we had a rough first half, and I thought it might be good for him just to gather and look at it from a coach’s point and a coach’s point from the sideline,” Gonzales told reporters in his postgame press conference. “But yeah, we need to to play better all around, not just him, everybody needs to play a little bit better, not just him, and I’ll take the blame for everything.
“I think if you take a look at what we do and what we need to be and it’s unacceptable and I’m going to put me up in front and say that’s on me. I’ll take the blame for this loss, 100%, so we got to be better, and we’ve got to be better, I’ve got to be better, make sure these players continue forward.”
Gonzales would not commit to either Lagway or Jones, who was just 9-for-17 for 60 yards in the second half against Kentucky, under center when Florida plays at No. 6 Ole Miss (7 pm ET, ESPN) in Week 12.
“We’ll take a look at the film and obviously we think (Lagway’s) a very talented young man but we’ll take a look at everything and move forward once we get back home,” Gonzales said.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
