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Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, offensive lineman Jake Slaughter, and defensive lineman Caleb Banks met with the media during Wednesday’s session of SEC Media Days.
DJ LAGWAY
Q. Where are you looking to grow personally, whether a mechanical or mental perspective? And what can we expect your your pre-snap and post-snap responsibilities to be?
DJ LAGWAY: I’m definitely looking to improve on more coverage recognition and knowing where the defense is going to be and truly knowing their responsibilities and also knowing my teammates’ responsibilities better.
Q. Last year, LSU came into the Swamp. You basically helped lead them with one good leg. What do you remember about that game? What’s your biggest takeaway from that?
DJ LAGWAY: For sure, I remember that whole week it was a lot of ups and downs mentally, just figuring out what’s the plan going to be, if I’m going to even be able to be out there.
But once we hit Thursday, it’s time to lock in — we’ve got to go get this W, doesn’t really matter. Playing against a great LSU team, they were good last year. And I’m excited to go to Death Valley this year, and it’s going to be fun.
Q. What were the most challenging things about getting on the field in the SEC as early in your career as you did? And what were some things maybe didn’t shock you all that much about playing in the league?
DJ LAGWAY: I would say the most challenging thing was really just time management, going from being in high school and then going to SEC, big-time college football, it’s a big difference. Especially where I’m from a little town, Willis, Texas, it’s a big difference.
Once I got adjusted to that and adjusted to knowing the offense and knowing where my people were at, that’s why I’m excited for this year because I know where my people are at. Now I can know where the defense is at and get better at that.
Q. What do you remember about that Texas A&M game? It was very early in your career last year. How much are you looking forward to this year kind of coming back home and playing in Kyle Field?
DJ LAGWAY: For sure, I’m definitely excited to go back play at Kyle Field. I’ve been in, like, a lot of games at Kyle Field. For me to be able to play in one that’s going to be surreal, having all my family, my teammates, my classmates, my coaches, teachers all of them being at the game, it’s going to be fun.
Q. As a freshman, most players don’t come in thinking they have to kind of put the world on their shoulders. But when you were kind of thrust in there, that’s exactly what happened.
DJ LAGWAY: For sure.
Q. I’m sure you heard some of the speculation about Coach Napier and his job status and hot-seat talk. How much did that actually impact you, and was that part of your day-to-day thinking when you were out there playing?
DJ LAGWAY: Yeah, when I’m out there playing, I’m just thinking about playing ball. I’m worried about trying to figure out, my freshman year, trying to figure out where my guys were going.
Every time I step on the field, that’s when life just kind of stopped for me. It’s, like, playing ball and just being just in the moment.
My biggest thing last year, I always wanted to get into some kind of flow state. Flow state is where you’re just moving, it’s just natural, everything happens naturally. That’s where I wanted to be at every game.
Q. Jack Pyburn transferred into LSU. What kind of player is LSU getting out of him?
DJ LAGWAY: Jack Pyburn is a guy. It’s going to be bittersweet playing against him. LSU is definitely getting a heck of a player and heck of a leader.
Q. We were talking with Caleb earlier. He mentioned just how thrilling it is to get to play in front of the fans in the Swamp. A lot made of the different home-field advantages around the conference. What is it like to play in front of those fans?
DJ LAGWAY: Words can’t even explain it, playing in the Swamp. The fans bring it each and every Saturday. I’m just thankful to be a part of it, and be able to be in the Swamp, and they’re rooting for us and chewing us and giving us that true advantage.
Q. When we talked to Caleb, I asked him about what his thoughts were coming out of that Georgia game last year. Obviously you went down with an injury in that game. But beforehand you had a lead on them. How much confidence does that give you going into this year’s match-up, one? And, two, what was that like having to sit there in the sideline and kind of watch how that game ended up unfolding?
DJ LAGWAY: For sure, it gives me a lot of confidence that, you know, it doesn’t matter who really is out there. It’s all about us. It’s all about how we prepare and how we go out there and treat the week.
Watching that game, after I got hurt, it was the hardest thing. I hated that. I just wanted to be out there with my guys. That’s all I want to do is just play football.
Seeing that, it was hard. But definitely giving me the confidence for next year to go out there and play.
Q. DJ, you got a chance to play against the Aggies last year at home. What stands out to you about A&M’s defense?
DJ LAGWAY: What stands out to me about A&M’s defense is just their interior pressure. They have a lot of good defensive linemen. And they had a lot of good corners, too. They had really good safety.
Really, all-around defense was really good. They have a good linebacker, Taurean York, I played against him in high school. He got the better of me, but I’m excited to play against him again this year. A great all-around great defense.
Q. Having guys like Jake and Caleb come back, having that continuity with upperclassmen, does that raise internal expectations for you, knowing the team you all have ready for this year?
DJ LAGWAY: I’d say not expectations. We’re not really worried about that. We’re just worried about one day at a time and just loving on each other, getting better.
That’s really what it’s about. And the brotherhood that we’ve built and the camaraderie that we have is just amazing. I’m excited just to showcase it to the world.
Q. How will Jadan Baugh play a role in the offense this season?
DJ LAGWAY: Jadan Baugh is a huge part of the offense. I’m excited for him. He’s been working his tail off this offseason. He’s definitely going to help us a lot this year.
Q. Aside from something like leadership, what do you think your best attribute is as a quarterback? And do you have anybody that you model yourself after at all?
DJ LAGWAY: My best attribute as a quarterback is really just — I’d say just my, as people would say, I guess my aura, confidence, and just the way I portray myself on game day.
My teammates always joke around about, like, they say that I’m a totally different person on game day. It kind of oozes out of me. And it’s just great to be able to be that for my guys.
Q. When you look around the conference at some of the other quarterbacks that are playing right now, how would you evaluate the level of play at the quarterback position in the SEC right now?
DJ LAGWAY: There’s a lot of good quarterbacks in the SEC right now. It’s just great to see, to be able to compete against some of them and to watch them further their careers and stuff like that down the road. I’m excited for them. Always praying for them.
Q. How do you manage the pressure of being the starting quarterback at the University of Florida, especially after the way you played last season entering this one as the starter?
DJ LAGWAY: For sure, I always say that pressure is a privilege. Once you have privilege, that means people are counting on you to do big things. I’m always excited when people say pressure. That’s why I just love the game day atmosphere because it feels like all eyes are on you and you’ve got to put on a show. That’s what I’m excited for.
Q. Along those lines, how do you internalize that pressure? Not to harp on it, but there’s a lot of pressure on you specifically last season save your coach’s job. How do you handle that?
DJ LAGWAY: The way I handle pressure and all that stuff, I kind of prepare during the week like crazy. And preparation leads to confidence. So once I get to Saturday, I already know that I put all the work in and did what I needed to do.
And kudos to the coaching staff. They prepare us like crazy, Coach O’Hara and Coach Napier, they put together a plan for the quarterbacks and the team in general. When we get out there, we already know what’s going to happen, dang near. So it’s great.
Q. You’ve been very outward about your faith your entire time in your recruiting, entire time at Florida. How do you think that helps you as a leader, especially through the ups and downs of a typical football season?
DJ LAGWAY: I definitely say faith is a huge part of my life. Having God as the foundation has been wonderful, because, as you said, there’s a lot of ups and downs on the football field, even in life, but having that foundation to keep me strong is beneficial.
JAKE SLAUGHTER
Q. Just tell me about late last season, going from all the noise to now people saying you’re a top-10 team or something like that?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: It’s one of those things, we had a huge mindset shift in the locker room. A lot of guys stepped up into a leadership role that maybe they weren’t in before.
We called it a one-day-contract type of mentality. Guys really shifted the way they thought and approached practice and the weights and the training room. It was a tremendous change and a big mindset shift.
Q. DJ was just in here talking about how the teammates joke with him about his different personality on game day. Can you delve into that? What is he talking about when you see the off-the-field versus when he steps on the green?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: DJ, he’s awesome. He’s just a hanging-out type of guy. He goes in about his business. He works his tail off. He treats everything like it’s the last thing he’s ever going to do.
But then on game day, he’s got a different type of swag to him. He’s getting everybody fired up. You don’t see that from Sunday through Friday, just Saturday.
Q. (Question off microphone)?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: I think it was the first game he was going to start, and he gave us a little pregame talk that I don’t think we can put on camera, but he got us all pretty fired up.
Q. LSU got Jack Pyburn. You being an offensive lineman, going head to head. Who is he and who is the athlete that LSU is getting? And also DJ Lagway basically helped propel y’all to beat LSU in a big momentum shift for you guys. What do you remember from that game?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: Starting off, talking about Jack Pyburn, he’s a tremendous competitor. He works his tail off in the weight room. He works his tail off in practice. Everything is a game rep for him. He was a very good teammate to me. But he made a decision for himself and his family.
Q. T.J. Lagway came in basically on one leg to help beat LSU. What do you remember from that game, and what do you take away from just what he did for you guys as a team?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: We all have a ton of respect for the way DJ put himself out there even when he was banged up. The type of leader that he is, the type of teammate he is, that’s the thing. It’s inspiring. It inspires a group of men. We all took a lot from that game and the way he carries himself in general.
Q. There was talk that Coach Napier was on the hot seat at some point last year. How did that affect the locker room? And just in general what’s it like to play for Coach Napier?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: I’m going to answer the back part of that question first. We all love to play for Coach Napier. I was so fortunate. I didn’t get recruit by him. I didn’t commit to him. I committed to the University of Florida. I was just lucky that a man of his character and integrity became the coach.
Q. The first part of the question was about did it impact the locker room at all, rumors about his status as the coach? Did it influence how you guys played?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: So everybody tries to block out the noise. We’re worried about what’s going on. But everybody’s well aware. Everybody’s on social media. You see it and you hear it.
But I think we did a great job this past season of blocking out the noise — go play for each other, go play for Coach. Let’s prove each other right.
Q. Do you have a specific game day routine, does someone in the locker room have a specific game-day routine they go through every single game day, like a ritual?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: I try to be pretty flexible because you’ll play a noon kick or 7:30 kick. You won’t have a carbon-copy game day.
But one thing I try to do before I run out of the tunnel every week is I try to get a good thump in the head from Tyreak Sapp. He’s got a hard head and a thick skull, and I like a shot in the dome to get my mind right.
Q. Growth in DJ Lagway that you’ve seen since he got to campus and since he took over the starting role.
JAKE SLAUGHTER: He’s made tremendous strides. It feels like every day he’s just a little bit better and he’s seeing it better. It’s big-picture-playing quarterback. You’ve got to know everything that’s going on.
It’s really special to be around a guy like him who works the way he does, who’s committed to being the best version of himself.
Q. You mentioned blocking out the noise, the hot-seat discussion, but how much was it, the actual conversation among the players that we need to do this, whether it’s for ourselves or for coach, to keep him on?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: In our experience, I don’t know if we were looking at each other, like, hey, it’s on us to keep Coach around. But I think everybody was aware there was a lot of noise about it. I think everybody felt a sense of urgency, like, man, we’ve got to go out there and perform.
Q. You guys kind of knocked Ole Miss out of the College Football Playoff conversations for good after you guys beat them. Now you guys go to play in Oxford. Are you expecting maybe a little more fire to that game than usual?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: We expect all of our opponents to be fired up to play. Anytime we get to go put the ball down and compete, we’re excited to go do it.
Q. You didn’t grow up far from Gainesville. Did you make it to the campus for games growing up?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: We got to go to one game usually every year because my old man would put on the Sherwin Williams tailgate for the store and we would get complimentary tickets. It was always special.
Q. Just an early-season trip to LSU and Tiger Stadium, what do you know about that. I know all the games are important but a big match-up in September early?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: No doubt. We’re all super excited. Everybody knows playing at LSU at night is the real deal. That’s about as electric as it gets in college football. We’re all looking forward to competing in that environment.
Q. What do you remember about the Texas A&M game last year and going up against that team?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: They were a really talented team. Across the board, there were a lot of guys, big, strong, fast, real good football players. I remember it felt like we could never get our feet underneath us. It was a tough game for us, but I think there was a lot of growth we got from that game.
Q. How does it feel at the end of the third quarter when they start that song?
JAKE SLAUGHTER: Oh, it’s electric. You hear that, Tom Petty Won’t Back Down, there’s nothing like it. You get chills every time it comes on.
Q. Talked a lot about DJ. He’s getting a lot of preseason hype, a lot of attention and odds and such as that. What’s it like seeing him in comparison to some of the other names you’re seeing out there? Obviously, Arch, Garrett, other guys have done a lot as well.
JAKE SLAUGHTER: I think that it’s a great honor for him to be recognized that way, but he knows just as good as anybody that that doesn’t mean anything. We’ve got to go put that on tape.
Q. I mean this as a compliment. Do you often get struck for being older than what you are? You don’t seem like the average 22-year-old.
JAKE SLAUGHTER: No, sir, I do get the “you ought to be 30” type.
CALEB BANKS
THE MODERATOR: Can you tell us what kind of offseason you’ve had heading into this season here.
CALEB BANKS: It’s been a great offseason. I’m just getting better with my teammates and just developing my game in all types of ways. It’s been great.
Q. What’s the coaching message for this year?
CALEB BANKS: Spot the ball.
Q. I know DJ was limited this summer, but just what have you seen from him and his progress and development? And just how is he looking right now after mostly sitting out this spring and summer?
CALEB BANKS: DJ, he’s a great player. DJ, he’s developing every day as well, getting his body together. He’s doing everything he can to help us and the team be productive.
Q. I don’t know if you’re keeping tabs on and Chris McLellan what he did last year at Mizzou after transferring — you played alongside him in 2023. What’s he like off the field and what’s your relationship with him still to this day? And what can Mizzou fans expect from him?
CALEB BANKS: Chris is a great player. He has a high motor. I wouldn’t say — we talk, we’re not the closest — but he was cool when he was here. We get along very well. But you guys should be expecting a really high-motor player and a great player.
Q. Just describe playing for Coach Napier and what you tell folks about him, and any sort of growth or development you’ve seen out of Coach in your time at Florida?
CALEB BANKS: Coach, he’s a great coach. He’s one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever been with. When I was at Louisville, I didn’t have much film, but when I transferred he believed in me and I really appreciate that. He put me in the best spot to be productive, and I’m here now at SEC Media Days. So he’s a great guy.
Q. You opted to come back for this season. I’m just curious if you could share a little bit more about your reason behind that and if there’s anything you saw from DJ Lagway that inspired your decision to return?
CALEB BANKS: It wasn’t just DJ Lagway, it was the whole entire team. I wanted to come back and play with my guys and be the first male in my family to graduate, first generation to graduate. I felt it was very important. And to come back get a national championship and of course have a higher draft stock for the NFL in the future.
Q. Talk about your decision coming back. But part of that, what kind of gives you optimism about this year’s squad, this year’s Florida Gators that it’s going to be better than last year?
CALEB BANKS: We work hard every day. I watch those guys work every single day. I watch how hard they work, how much work they put in day in and day out, the extra time they put in.
It’s the little things as well. I feel like it’s going to be a really great year for us.
Q. Was there a time last year that whether — before he got put in as a starter but that you knew that DJ was going to be everything he was billed to be?
CALEB BANKS: I used to watch his film in high school. He’s a dude. Just the little things that he do, like to critique his game, I think he’s a great player. Once he went in, we didn’t have no type of doubt that he would be able to take over and be able to help us win that game.
I watch him in practice. I’ve been in the back a long time, practicing with him. I watch how — he’s a good guy, a good player.
Q. You talked about improving your draft stock. What do you think you have to work on the most?
CALEB BANKS: My run game. I think my run game will be the biggest thing for me this year. My pass rush.
Honestly, everything. My pad level, I think I can improve in everything. There’s always room for improvement. Just got to keep going.
Q. Obviously the team ended on a high note, on that winning streak. How do you kind of carry that momentum from last season into a new year? And how do you also avoid the slower start that you all had in 2024?
CALEB BANKS: Honestly, I think it’s a mindset thing. I think if we have the right mindset going into the season this year and we have a great fall camp, we’ll be able to go out and be successful this year.
Q. You talked about your appreciation for Billy, Coach Napier. What’s it like as a player to hear and see the headlines or the speculation about your coach’s job status? Obviously he’s got to deal with it, but what’s it like internally among the team?
CALEB BANKS: You know, we all believe in Coach Napier. We know he’s a great guy, a great coach. And we believe in everything he’s done for us. He puts us in a great position every single day with everything that we do. We love him.
Q. Florida’s a program that has its share of rivalry games — LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State. Do you have a particularly favorite game to play, a game you look forward to on the schedule?
CALEB BANKS: I’m looking forward to every single game, honestly. I don’t have any one picked out. I’m ready to play ball.
Q. What do you remember from the Texas A&M game last year? And then how much are you looking forward to going on the road this time to Kyle Field?
CALEB BANKS: That was a great game. We had our times — they shot at us we shot at them. I feel this upcoming season, if we just be more disciplined with certain things as a defense, we can have a great year and a great game against them.
Q. What do you remember from last year’s game against Georgia? And what is the team’s mindset going into this year as, before Lagway went down it looked like you were all going to take it to them?
CALEB BANKS: That was a great game. Georgia was a good game. We almost had them. I feel like we almost had them.
Honestly, like, we’ve just got to get them next time. Nothing else to say about that. We’ll see them soon. Just gotta play our best game we can play.
Q. A lot’s been made about how difficult it is to go into the Swamp as an opposing team. What’s it like playing in front of that crowd as part of the Gators?
CALEB BANKS: It’s crazy. It’s probably the craziest environment I’ve ever played in. I love our fans. I love the Florida Gators. I feel like the Swamp is just the best place to play at night and in the daytime. They bring it anytime. It’s amazing.
Q. What role did the LSU game play in your late resurgence last year? What did that win mean for you guys moving forward?
CALEB BANKS: It was a really big win for us. We wanted to be able to prove to everybody we can beat a top team. They kind of thought we couldn’t. We had to prove to ourselves and everybody else that we can do it. Simple as that.
Q. What’s it feel like when you’re winning and the third quarter is over and they play the song, how does that feel?
CALEB BANKS: It’s amazing. Every time I look up in the sky, I just thank God we’re in the position we’re in. If we’re losing or winning, I’m just here in a beautiful place around amazing people. It’s amazing.
Q. Do you sing along with it or not?
CALEB BANKS: I do all the time, all the time.
Q. Tell us about Jack Pyburn. What kind of guy is LSU getting in him? He looks like a superhero or something.
CALEB BANKS: Jack he’s a dude. He’s one of my closest friends. That’s why he’s at Florida. You’re getting a motivated player. He loves to work. He works all the time. That’s all he do, that’s all he believes in. Getting a good guy.
Q. I know you go against him every day. The offensive line returns, I believe, it’s four out of five starters. What’s make the group so challenging not only in practice, but in games, from your perspective?
CALEB BANKS: They play together so well. Even in practice, I speak for practice because in the game, we’re kind of locked in. But in practice, they’re connected, they’re one. They have a saying “Five equals one.” They’re one. They play together. They understand each other. They know each other like the back of their hand. That’s a great group of guys right there.
Q. A lot of great Gators have come through there. They might still be hanging around the program. Any there any that have helped you or you have gotten to know?
CALEB BANKS: B Spikes, he’s one of the coolest (indiscernible) I’ve run into. He loves the Florida Gators. He reminds me every day why I’m here and what I’m doing it for. Good guy.
Q. T.J. Searcy, former teammate that had transferred out. What kind of teammate was he? What’s he like as a player?
CALEB BANKS: T.J.’s a great guy. Like I said about Jack, he loves to work. He goes out every day, attacks every day. He loves the game. You guys are getting a great guy.
Courtesy ASAP Transcripts
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