DJ Lagway didn’t sound like a quarterback trying to reinvent himself in Baylor’s fall camp. He sounded like one who had finally found the right fit.
Two days into preseason camp, Lagway said the biggest change is the simplest one: football feels fun again. After spending a year dealing with injuries and the adjustment that comes with college football, he said he’s entering the 2026 season playing with more freedom and more confidence.
"I'm having fun playing football," Lagway said. "Last year, I always say I wasn't doing this. So being able to be out here with guys, compete, make throws, make good plays, make bad plays and learn from it-it's a blessing."
That comfort has shown up quickly in Baylor’s offense, especially with offensive coordinator Jake Spavital. Lagway said he feels much more settled now than he did in spring, and he pointed to the freedom built into the system as a major reason why.
"I feel much more comfortable with Coach Spav," Lagway said. "Just the freedom he allows me to play with. I feel very comfortable."
Spavital’s approach has been a steady theme in camp, and Lagway said the offense includes concepts he knew from high school while also giving him room to bring over what he learned at Florida. He isn’t treating the move like a reset button. For him, it’s more like adding new pieces to a game that already has a base.
"I learned so much at Florida -just how to be an overall quarterback," he said. "Taking what I know now and adding it to that and putting my own little flavor with it, I'm excited. It's going to be fun."
Lagway also believes the timing is lining up exactly how it should.
"I feel like where I'm at in my career, I need an offense like this," he said. "The Lord works in perfect timing, and I feel like this is the system that I need to be in right now."
Just as important, he said, is the way he’s been received inside Baylor’s locker room. Lagway kept coming back to his teammates, calling them “my guys” and smiling while talking about how quickly he’s built relationships.
For him, camp isn’t only about mastering the offense. It’s about tightening the bond with the people around him.
"My goals this camp are just really connecting closer with my guys," Lagway said. "Build chemistry with the receivers even more and just continue to connect with the guys."
That part, he said, has been easy.
"When I get around them, everything just slows down for me," Lagway said. "It's a great group of guys. They've welcomed me in with open arms, and I'm thankful for them every step of the way."
He also credited the quarterback room for pushing him. The daily competition, he said, has sharpened everyone.
"Those guys compete every day," he said. "They push me to be at my best every single day."
The first couple of days of camp have already brought the kind of back-and-forth he wants. Lagway described the sessions as energetic and competitive, with both sides of the ball pushing each other hard.
"It's great vibes," he said. "Energy is flowing.
It's a lot more competitive. It's offense versus defense, going back and forth.
We're building good football right now."
Baylor opens the season against Auburn, but Lagway said the focus right now is still on Baylor itself. He acknowledged Auburn’s physical style and the way the Tigers play sticky coverage, but he made clear the Bears are not getting ahead of themselves.
"They're a very physical football team," Lagway said. "They're going to play a lot of sticky coverage. We've got to be able to win in contested coverages, but right now we're really focusing on ourselves and trying to get better."
Lagway also said his early career has changed how he sees leadership. After already living through good stretches and rough ones, he wants to bring a steadier presence to Baylor’s offense.
"I've played a lot of football, seen a lot of good, seen a lot of bad," Lagway said. "Just going out there and having fun-that's the biggest thing. That's what I always try to talk to my guys about: going out there, having fun and playing free."
For Lagway, the move carries extra weight. He said he has been a Baylor fan his whole life, and wearing green and gold is something he’s looked forward to for years.