DJ Lagway’s Father Turns to God as Son’s $3.7M NIL Fortune Offers Unimaginable Privilege

The Florida Gators’ 2025 season opens against Long Island University on August 30 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Fans are buzzing over sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway is starting the game for the gators. Last year, he gave Gainesville hope again, when he went 6-1 in his first seven games, and was named a Freshman All-American. But, Lagway’s influence extends beyond the field…

Off the field, he’s popular as one of college football’s most well-known brands with a massive $3.7 million NIL valuation on On3. Ben Chase, the director of Florida NIL, stated, “He is QB1 at a top-five brand in college football,” and he really means it. The guy is all over: Beats by Dre, Gatorade, T-Mobile commercials with Patrick Mahomes and Rob Gronkowski, and even a burger at a food truck in Gainesville with his name on it — the Lagway burger.And the latest? Nike’s Jordan announced DJ Lagway as its newest athlete. “Football has given me so much, and NIL has opened doors I could never have imagined,” said Lagway.

In a recent IG post shared by DJ’s dad, Derek Lagway Sr. showed the entire family excited as they board a chic private jet. Along with the ride’s luxury, the clips also show the pride and thankfulness that accompany it. The captions over the videos read “God is good” and “Blessed by the best. Gainesville here we come”. It wasn’t about flaunting, it was more of a reminder of how much football and faith had impacted their lives.

Behind all those luxuries and blessings, beyond talent is DJ’s relentless work ethic and family support. His parents, Derek and Niki, who were high school sweethearts who have been familiar with the challenges of athletics. They have always had DJ’s back. “Going out to the first game this year and seeing my son lead the Willis Wildkats in front of his community… our community… it was a dream come true.. We were just overjoyed with pride,” said his dad, recalling days when he was a QB for Willis High School.

His mom and dad love sharing stories DJ’s childhood from the two-year-old DJ slapping wiffle balls in the backyard to the five-year-old standing out in hoops to the ten-year-old football player who hardly received any tackles during the season. DJ’s mom Niki swears that his mindset that sets him apart: “He is a goal-oriented person. He writes his goals on the bathroom mirror. Big ones, small ones, and… He marks them off and won’t rest until they are done.” Derek adds, “When I was his age, I didn’t have that kind of work ethic. He got that from his mom.”

DJ Lagway’s NIL success and a mission of giving back

DJ Lagway just can’t stop making history, both on and off the field. The Florida QB, who last season came next to Chris Leak for the most wins by a true freshman, is now setting new NIL records. The sophomore became the first-ever NIL QB to sign a deal with Nike’s Jordan Brand, joining a squad that already features NFL players like Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts. But DJ seems to be pretty clear on his goals “It’s a dream come true, but it’s not the end goal… The end goal is the NFL.”

Earlier this year DJ, made a six-figure donation to Florida Victorious on International Women’s Day to help fund women’s athletics on campus. A gesture like that reveals a lot about his beliefs and attitude. “Every home run, every spike. So many hours of unseen hard work. But I see it. I see the 25 SEC championships. I see it in the perfect 10. I can hear the hours of dedication in every pitch. I see the precision in every 3-pointer. I am truly inspired by these women, their passion pushes me to go harder every single day,” DJ said.

And we have no doubts on where that mindset comes from. According to his mother, Niki, it all began years ago with his late grandmother, who was constantly giving to the community.  She helped neighbors, paid bills, and even bought Christmas presents for underprivileged families. “NIL is definitely a blessing for me and my family… you got to be able to utilize it well and just be able to help not just you and your family but others. That’s the biggest thing I want to accomplish,” DJ firmly believes in the foundation laid by her grandmother.