NFL legend Emmitt Smith recently presented the Gatorade National Player of the Year award to Florida's DJ Lagway. The two joined Robin Lundberg to discuss the future of the Gators, the Cowboys' reunion with Jimmy Johnson, and to make predictions for the Super Bowl and the national championship.
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00:00 I'm Robin Lumber joined now by Dallas Cowboys legend and Gatorade National Player of the Year in Florida Gator
00:06 DJ Lagway and DJ. I understand Emmett just presented you with the award. What was that like to get that from him?
00:12 It was surreal. It was truly a blessing and I'm just excited. You know, I was really excited. I still am so yeah
00:19 Emmett how pumped are you to see DJ wearing Gators gear?
00:23 I'm excited as well. I mean obviously
00:27 He has a tremendous amount of talent to win this award
00:31 That means that he's the best football player in the country. And so to have the Gators
00:35 Sign him here
00:37 I'm excited to see him get on the football field and
00:41 Excited to see how he can help turn this turn the program around and get us back on the winning track
00:46 DJ how do you plan to turn the program around like Emmett just said there?
00:52 Just some continue to work. That's the biggest thing. I'm gonna continue to work and keep my head down. That's the biggest thing
00:57 Yes, he cannot do it all by himself
00:59 but but he can definitely be a good part of the piece of the puzzle and
01:04 and it starts at the quarterback position and
01:08 When I've heard about him thus far and what some folks have been saying about him
01:13 I'm excited to see his growth and his development
01:16 You know, you didn't do it by yourself and speaking of your old teams
01:19 What was it like to be out there on the field as Jimmy Johnson got into the the Ring of Honor, you know
01:24 Alongside Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman out there. It was great. It was great to
01:29 See coach Johnson go into the ring. It's been a long time coming. The ring is felt empty without him
01:36 because he was a
01:39 major architect to the development of the team of the 90s and so
01:45 To finally get him into the Ring of Honor was truly a blessing not only for him
01:49 But I think it made everyone feel complete
01:53 And so I was thrilled to be there on the football field to see it and be there to enjoy the moment with him
02:00 Do you consider that the best NFL team of all time? Oh
02:03 No doubt no doubt
02:06 No doubt we were
02:09 DJ you're a young guy. You know anything about that? I
02:14 Know a little bit not too much
02:16 You know, you google when we're done
02:20 Now the current Cowboys team Emmett is struggling a little bit with the run game. What would your advice be to Tony Pollard right now? I
02:28 Don't think we're struggling as much
02:31 I don't think the run game is that we have not been as committed to the run game as we were in the past
02:36 people want to talk about put Tony Pollard's of yard per average coming from five point something down to four point something one point
02:44 Oh what people fail to realize and what DJ is gonna realize also is that?
02:48 Defenses are gearing up to stop the run and the number one guy everyone is preparing for the number one guy
02:55 He's the number one guy now versus been a number two guy
02:58 And so certain plays that he ran with Zekir Elliott was there
03:02 We caught defenses in in certain type of situations and now they are knowing that Tony Pollard is gonna get the ball
03:09 things are there to shut him down and
03:12 Most teams and most defensive teams try to stop the run first and foremost
03:15 That's the number one thing that most defenses are trying to do and so for a guy like DJ who's playing the quarterback position
03:21 Once they start to developing
03:23 Seeing you develop and seeing you playing play
03:26 Coaches and defensive coordinators gonna spend all season trying to break down tape and put you in weaker positions
03:32 So it's up to him now to expand his mindset and go even further and that's what Tony Pollard is gonna have to do as well
03:38 As well as Mike McCarthy as well as coach Napier here
03:41 So those are just things that coaches must do DJ. Is there a QB you model your game after?
03:46 You know, I like I kind of watch a lot of quarterbacks, you know, I watch right now
03:51 I've been watching the Aaron Rodgers, you know Patrick Mahomes
03:53 I just like the way they do things off schedule and just improvise and make plays
03:58 Let me get your guys predictions for both the the NFL and college football playoff since we're there right now
04:05 Let's start with you Emmett on the Super Bowl
04:07 So well, I hope to see the Cowboys there
04:11 There's gonna be a really tough road. The road has to go through Sam brand and so it's gonna be a tough road
04:17 DJ I would say the Ravens probably, you know, Lamar Jackson. He's been lining it up. So I say the Ravens
04:24 All right. And how about in college football? We'll start there with you DJ Washington and Michigan who you got?
04:30 I got Michigan. I think this is gonna pull it off
04:35 And I have watched I have watched
04:37 I'm going with the quarterback over there and those wide receivers that they actually have
04:42 I think they was they have a great group of wide receivers and and Pettit can throw the ball. He can spin it
04:48 Well, you got a future quarterback sitting right next to you, Florida Gator
04:53 National Player of the Year via Gatorade and of course DJ you're sitting next to one of the legends of the game in Emmett Smith
05:01 Congratulations to both of you guys on this moment
05:04 I appreciate you. Thank you.
05:06 [WHOOSH]