Willis quarterback broke Class 6A state record for most passing touchdowns in a season.
Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2023 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
D.J. Lagway of
Willis is the 2023 MaxPreps Texas High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior quarterback led the Wildkats to the school's best season going 12-1 with the only loss coming against No. 6 DeSoto (Texas) in the third round of the Class 6A Division 2 playoffs.
For the season, Lagway threw for 4,631 yards and a Class 6A state record 58 touchdowns while completing 72.1 percent of his attempts. He added 975 yards and 15 scores on the ground.
MaxPreps Texas Player of the Year D.J. Lagway averaged nearly 500 yards of total offense per game in three playoff outings. (Photo: Alex Garza)
Willis finished the regular season unbeaten, capturing its first district title since 2002.
In a 60-52 win over The Woodlands to clinch the top spot in the district, Lagway went 29 of 35 for 383 yards and four TDs while running 13 times for 220 yards and three more scores.
Lagway posted a season-high 543 passing yards to go along with five TDs in a 63-9 win over Caney Creek (Conroe) in October. He threw eight touchdown passes in wins over Rudder and Cleveland.
In three playoff games, Lagway accounted for 1,455 yards of total offense and 15 touchdowns.
Regarded as a the second-rated quarterback in the Class of 2024 by
247Sports, Lagway committed to Florida last December.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team.
Past MaxPreps Texas Players of the Year
2020 — Demetrius Davis, QB, North Shore (Houston)
2021 — Cade Klubnik, QB, Westlake (Austin)
2022 — Jackson Arnold, QB, Guyer (Denton)
