DJ Lagway Enters Transfer Portal: Should UNC and Belichick Take a Swing?
The college football transfer portal is officially buzzing, and few names have turned heads quite like DJ Lagway. The former five-star quarterback out of Texas, once ranked among the top signal-callers in the 2024 class, is back on the market after an up-and-down stint at Florida.
And while the buzz is just beginning, one program that should be paying close attention? North Carolina.
Lagway’s departure from Gainesville isn’t exactly shocking, but it’s certainly intriguing. The raw talent is still there - you don’t get ranked as the No.
3 QB in the country by accident - but the production hasn’t matched the hype. After a promising freshman campaign that mixed flashes of brilliance with expected growing pains, Lagway’s sophomore season didn’t deliver the breakout many were hoping for.
He threw for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns, but the 14 interceptions loomed large. Turnovers, inconsistency, and stalled development became the storyline rather than a second-year leap.
Still, it’s far too early to write Lagway off. He’s got the arm strength, athleticism, and pedigree to succeed - he just needs the right situation. And that’s where things get interesting for North Carolina.
The Tar Heels are coming off a rocky 2025 season under new head coach Bill Belichick, who’s still searching for a long-term answer at quarterback. Gio Lopez, brought in with hopes of stabilizing the position, struggled throughout the year. Now, with the offense in flux and the future uncertain, Lagway could be a compelling bridge option.
Enter Bryce Baker, UNC’s highly touted 4-star signee from the 2025 class. He’s the future in Chapel Hill, no doubt about it.
But he may not be ready to take over just yet. Lagway could be the perfect stopgap - a player with enough upside to elevate the offense in the short term while giving Baker time to develop behind the scenes.
It’s a delicate balance, of course. Bringing in a transfer quarterback always carries the risk of disrupting the depth chart or shaking a young QB’s confidence.
But if there’s one coach who understands how to manage a quarterback room and get the most out of underperforming talent, it’s Belichick. His track record speaks for itself.
For UNC, this isn’t about chasing stars or making a splash. It’s about finding the right fit at the right time.
Lagway brings both risk and reward. He’s a quarterback who can make plays off-schedule, stretch the field, and bring a dynamic element to an offense that desperately needs one.
He also brings baggage - the turnovers, the inconsistency, the unfulfilled expectations.
But in the portal era, that’s the trade-off. And for a program like North Carolina, which is trying to find its footing under a legendary but still-new head coach, this is the kind of calculated risk that could pay off big.
Lagway’s story isn’t finished. Not even close. And if UNC decides to make a move, they might just be the ones to help him write the next chapter - one that finally lives up to the five-star promise.