Florida QB DJ Lagway Continues to Give Back After Signing Major NIL Deals
By Colin Lyle
Last Updated on March 24, 2025
While Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has created an impressive name, image, and likeness brand with his star power on the football field, he has been busy using that brand off the field to give back to others. The rising sophomore recently created his own foundation to assist in charitable endeavors while giving some of his time and NIL earnings to other causes.
Lagway hosted the DJ Lagway Foundation Kickoff Dinner on March 10 which raised $50,000 to provide resources for local youth through UF Health. The event included a silent and live auction with pieces from performance painter Alex Ruiz, including a 10-minute mural of Lagway that fetched $9,000 and another piece that sold for almost $7,000.
The event was held in collaboration with Network Advisory and Legacy Sports Advisors, Lagway’s talent management and marketing agency, which described the foundation as a “natural extension of his character.” Over 20 relatives of Lagway were in attendance, and DJ and his mother, Niki Lagway, talked about their commitment to giving back, which was passed down from his grandmother.
“Growing up, my family has always prioritized giving back to the community, and we have seen the impact it can make,” Lagway said. “Through NIL, I have the chance to be part of that change and use this opportunity for good. And I’m so thankful for everyone who joined us at the foundation kickoff dinner. Seeing this event come to life and knowing how the funds we raised will benefit the local community is just the start of what we can accomplish together.”
On March 8, International Women’s Day, Lagway donated a six-figure amount of his NIL earnings to the school’s women’s athletic programs, according to Pete Nakos. Through Florida Victorious, the Gators’ NIL collective, the donation will be distributed between volleyball, gymnastics, women’s basketball, and softball programs.
Lagway’s commitment to helping others shows his advanced maturity at a young age. With only one year of college football under his belt, the sky is the limit for how much the young quarterback can do to help those around him with his growing brand, which includes NIL deals from several large brands.
DJ’s Big Deals
Lagway’s first NIL deal was a partnership with Leaf Trading Cards, which included a release of NextGen autographed cards. After Hurricane Milton devastated parts of Florida last October, Lagway and Leaf released a card with 100% of proceeds being donated to the Florida Disaster Fund to help relief efforts, emphasizing his commitment to helping out and giving back to local communities.
Before ever stepping foot on the field for the Florida Gators, Lagway was featured in a Gatorade commercial narrated by Michael Jordan for the return of the brand’s “Is It In You?” campaign. Other star athletes in the commercial included Caitlin Clark, Josh Allen, Jayson Tatum and A’ja Wilson, cementing the stardom and brand power he had built after dominating the Texas high school football scene.
Another major deal for Lagway was a partnership with Nintendo America and Epic Games to promote the comeback of the OG Fortnite game mode. The quarterback starred in a commercial with his little brother Jamal in January, which included the duo playing the coveted game mode on a Nintendo Switch. Lagway joined Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama receiver Ryan Williams as partners with both brands, which forms a roster of college football’s brightest stars.
Lagway also has a deal with the North Florida group Food4Kids Florida through Florida Victorious. The quarterback and several teammates spent some of last June deep cleaning the F4K warehouse to prepare it for the school year and ensure that no kid goes to sleep hungry.
With these deals from local and global groups, Lagway ranks No. 4 among college football players with a $3.8 million valuation, according to On3’s NIL Valuations. The Gator quarterback will look to build on a freshman season where he accumulated over 2,000 total yards and a 12-to-9 touchdown-interception ratio while stepping into the starting job after a midseason injury to Graham Mertz.
