Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is officially on the move. After two seasons in Gainesville, the former five-star recruit has entered the transfer portal, signaling the end of a once-promising chapter with the Gators.
Lagway’s sophomore campaign didn’t quite live up to the expectations that followed his breakout freshman year. He threw for 2,264 yards and 16 touchdowns, but those numbers were weighed down by 14 interceptions and a limited impact on the ground-just 136 rushing yards and a single rushing score.
The Gators’ season quickly spiraled, falling out of the Top 25 by Week 3 after a loss to South Florida and a rough five-pick outing by Lagway against LSU. That performance, in particular, seemed to foreshadow the struggles that would define Florida’s season.
Despite the downturn, Lagway’s talent was never in question. He was a cornerstone of Florida’s recruiting efforts and a major win for former head coach Billy Napier.
In fact, his stellar freshman season was widely credited with helping Napier keep his job at the time. But a rash of injuries during the offseason slowed Lagway’s development, and Florida’s offense sputtered-ranking 91st nationally in yards per play.
That regression, combined with mounting pressure, ultimately led to Napier’s dismissal.
Even with the coaching change, Lagway reportedly wanted to stay. He chose Florida for a reason-he believed in the program, loved the school, and embraced the environment.
But sometimes, in college football, things shift quickly. Disagreements behind the scenes led to an unexpected parting of ways.
While Lagway looks for a new home, Kansas State fans are hoping their own five-star talent is just getting started.
Tight end Linkon Cure didn’t light up the stat sheet in his freshman year-just six catches for 37 yards-but the potential is still very much there. Cure came to Manhattan with a reputation as a dynamic playmaker out of Goodland High, and though his role was limited this season, there’s optimism about what’s ahead.
Former head coach Chris Klieman had plans to use Cure in a hybrid role-more wide receiver than traditional tight end-hoping to pair him with standout Jayce Brown as a second perimeter threat. Cure’s speed and ability to stretch the field could bring a new dimension to a Wildcats offense that played things relatively safe in 2025.
With Collin Klein likely to return to a more tight end-friendly scheme-both in the passing game and run blocking-Cure’s opportunity to make a bigger impact could come sooner rather than later.
For now, Cure is focused on growth. He’s embraced the learning curve, stayed grounded through the ups and downs, and kept his faith at the center of it all.
“It’s definitely been tough, but I’ve fought through all the ups and downs,” Cure said ahead of K-State’s matchup with Utah. “Honestly, all Glory to God. He kind of helped me out through all this stuff, and it’s been good so far.”
Two five-star players. Two very different seasons.
One is looking for a fresh start, the other is still finding his footing. But both are reminders that in college football, the road from high school stardom to college success is rarely a straight line.