With DJ Lagway expected to hit the transfer portal, the Florida Gators find themselves in a pivotal moment. While the move isn’t official until the portal opens on January 2, all signs point to the former blue-chip quarterback moving on after two seasons in Gainesville. That leaves new head coach Jon Sumrall and his incoming staff with a major decision on their hands: who takes the reins under center?
Lagway’s departure is a big one. The Texas native and Baylor legacy was a cornerstone recruit, and his exit creates a significant void at the most important position on the field.
Florida’s next move at quarterback will be one of the early defining moments of the Sumrall era. And with the transfer portal heating up, the Gators will have options-but not all of them are good fits.
Right now, the market is shaping up quickly. As of mid-December, Lagway ranks among the top quarterbacks expected to be available, trailing only Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola in some early rankings. Notre Dame’s Kenny Minchey is also in the mix, making it a strong group of four-star signal-callers looking for new homes.
Florida’s staff is already being linked to a few names, including Georgia Tech backup Aaron Philo. That connection makes sense-Buster Faulkner, Georgia Tech’s former offensive coordinator, is now calling plays in Gainesville.
Philo could be a developmental option, especially with Haynes King still entrenched in Atlanta. But beyond potential targets, it’s just as important to know who Florida shouldn’t pursue.
Here are three quarterbacks the Gators would be wise to steer clear of as they search for Lagway’s replacement.
3. Tayven Jackson - UCF Knights
Tayven Jackson’s journey through college football has been anything but linear. After stints at Tennessee and Indiana, Jackson landed at UCF, where he struggled to carve out a consistent role. If he enters the portal again, it would mark his fourth program-a red flag for any team looking for stability at the position.
Jackson’s tape shows flashes, but the overall body of work raises concerns. He’s never looked fully comfortable in the pocket, and his lack of mobility limits what an offense can do when protection breaks down. When pressure comes, he tends to fold rather than extend plays or make something happen on the run.
That’s not what Florida needs right now. The Gators are trying to build something sustainable, and bringing in a quarterback with limited upside and a history of inconsistency doesn’t align with that vision.
Jackson might find success at a Group of Five school where the speed of the game is a little slower and the expectations aren’t quite as high. But in the SEC?
That’s a tough ask.
2. Aidan Chiles - Michigan State Spartans
Aidan Chiles arrived on the scene with plenty of promise, following head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to Michigan State. But two years later, Smith is out, and Chiles is still searching for his footing.
Chiles has the physical tools-there’s no question about that. But the production hasn’t followed.
He struggled to find consistent playing time in Corvallis, and the move to East Lansing didn’t do him any favors. Michigan State’s offense sputtered all season, and Chiles never looked fully in command.
The SEC isn’t forgiving to quarterbacks still trying to find their identity. Florida needs someone who’s ready to compete right away, not a developmental project who’s still working through growing pains.
Chiles might benefit from a reset, but Gainesville isn’t the place for a quarterback who needs time to figure things out. The Gators need someone who can step in and elevate the offense, not someone who’s still learning how to lead one.
1. Dylan Raiola - Nebraska Cornhuskers
Dylan Raiola is one of the most talked-about names in the portal-and for good reason. He’s immensely talented, with a five-star pedigree and the kind of arm talent that turns heads. But talent alone doesn’t make a quarterback the right fit, and in Raiola’s case, the red flags are hard to ignore.
Raiola’s journey has already included multiple schools, and while the raw tools are there, the maturity and leadership traits you want in a franchise QB haven’t consistently shown up. There’s a sense that he’s still chasing an ideal version of himself, rather than locking in and doing the work to become a reliable, team-first leader.
For a Florida program trying to reset its culture under Jon Sumrall, that’s a gamble not worth taking. Raiola might thrive in a system that leans into flash and flair-somewhere like Oregon or Tennessee-but Florida is trying to build something tougher, more grounded, and more accountable.
Raiola could win games in Gainesville, sure. But the question is whether he’d help build something lasting.
Bottom Line:
The Gators are entering a new era, and quarterback will be at the heart of it.
With DJ Lagway on the way out, Florida has a chance to reset the position with a player who fits the identity Sumrall and his staff are trying to establish. That means doing their homework, trusting their evaluations, and avoiding the temptation to chase names that don’t fit the long-term vision.
There’s no shortage of talent in the portal. But not every quarterback is the right quarterback for Florida.