DJ Lagway Enters Transfer Portal, But Health Concerns Raise Big Questions for Potential Suitors
DJ Lagway’s decision to enter the transfer portal this week was expected to spark interest from programs across the country. After all, this is a former five-star quarterback we’re talking about - a player whose high school tape turned heads and whose raw tools once made him one of the most coveted recruits in the nation. But as the portal dust starts to settle, a more sobering reality is coming into focus: Lagway may not be the instant-impact addition some teams are hoping for.
According to a Florida insider with close ties to the program, Lagway’s situation is more complex than it appears on the surface. The 20-year-old quarterback is coming off a challenging 2025 season, both physically and mentally, and may need more than just a change of scenery to get back on track.
Let’s start with the numbers. Lagway finished the year with 16 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions while leading a Florida team that stumbled to a 4-8 record.
That stat line alone raises eyebrows, but it’s the context behind it that’s even more concerning. Injuries were a major storyline - and not the kind you just bounce back from in a few weeks.
Lagway reportedly dealt with a trio of significant issues throughout the year: core surgery, arm soreness, and calf problems. He didn’t throw a football from January through August, which is essentially an entire offseason lost.
For a young quarterback trying to adjust to the speed and complexity of the college game, that’s a massive setback. And it showed.
By the time he returned to action, Lagway looked like a player still searching for rhythm, timing, and confidence. His mechanics were inconsistent, his decision-making erratic, and his pocket presence - usually one of his strengths - seemed to regress under pressure. It all culminated in a five-interception game against LSU in September, a performance that still lingers in the minds of Tigers fans and scouts alike.
Florida’s season didn’t help matters. Head coach Billy Napier was fired midseason, and while Jon Sumrall has since taken over, Lagway’s first meeting with the new staff reportedly didn’t go well. That interaction appears to have sealed his decision to enter the portal.
Now, the conversation shifts to what’s next - and more importantly, what kind of player a new team would be getting. The prevailing sentiment from those close to the Florida program is that Lagway might benefit from a redshirt year in 2026. Not just to recover physically, but to reset mentally and rebuild his game from the ground up.
That’s not a knock on his talent. The arm strength, mobility, and playmaking instincts that made him a five-star recruit are still there. But the injuries have clearly taken a toll, and rushing him back into a high-pressure situation could do more harm than good.
There are already whispers about potential landing spots. LSU has reportedly shown early interest, though it’s worth noting the Tigers already have a crowded quarterback room and may be eyeing other options, including a possible addition from Ole Miss.
Baylor could be a logical destination given Lagway’s Texas roots and family ties to the program - his father, Derek, played there. Other programs like Duke, Florida State, Miami, Clemson, and Texas Tech could enter the mix depending on how their quarterback depth charts shake out.
USC has also been floated as a possibility, especially if Lagway is open to redshirting and developing under a quarterback-friendly system. That kind of long-term investment might be the best path forward - a chance to get fully healthy, refine his mechanics, and return to the field with a clearer head and a stronger body.
Right now, Lagway’s story is at a crossroads. There’s still potential here, no doubt. But there’s also a reality that can’t be ignored: he’s not the same player he was coming out of high school, and any team pursuing him needs to understand the difference between recruiting hype and current form.
This isn’t about writing Lagway off. It’s about being honest about where he is in his development - and what it’s going to take to get him back to where he wants to be.
For teams looking to make a splash in the portal, that’s a critical distinction. Because if you’re banking on what Lagway could be without acknowledging what he is right now, you might be making a very expensive mistake.