{"id":111348,"date":"2026-01-09T04:07:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T04:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/111348\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T04:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T04:07:08","slug":"florida-transfer-qb-dj-lagway-makes-final-decision-on-new-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/111348\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Transfer QB DJ Lagway Makes Final Decision on New Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a significant move within college football\u2019s transfer portal, former Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway has decided to join the Baylor Bears<\/a>. This commitment wraps up an extended search that involved multiple campus visits and drew attention from programs nationwide.<\/p>\n

Lagway entered the scene as one of the most highly touted high school prospects, earning a five-star-plus rating. He arrived at Florida with sky-high anticipation, but his performance in Gainesville fell short of those lofty predictions, marked by uneven outings and several challenging moments on the field.<\/p>\n

That said, the young signal-caller occasionally demonstrated the elite talent that made him a standout recruit. His glimpses of brilliance kept him as a prime target for teams seeking quarterback upgrades through the portal.<\/p>\n

Throughout his exploration of options, Lagway made official trips to several schools, including Florida State and Virginia, before concluding with a visit to Baylor. These stops highlighted the widespread interest in his abilities.<\/p>\n

A key factor in his decision appears to be personal connections to Baylor. The university holds family significance, as his father previously suited up there as a running back. Additionally, being a native of Texas strengthens his ties to the program and the region.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Gators have already shifted focus to their future under the position. They secured a pledge from Aaron Philo, a transfer previously at Georgia Tech who was projected to take the reins as starter. Philo\u2019s move was influenced by his desire to reunite with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who joined Florida\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n

Sources suggest that tensions arose during a discussion between Lagway and Florida\u2019s newly appointed head coach Jon Sumrall, which contributed to the quarterback\u2019s choice to seek opportunities elsewhere via the portal.<\/p>\n

In his farewell statement, Lagway expressed deep appreciation for his time with the Gators. <\/p>\n

\u201cTo me friends and teammates \u2013 thank you for the brotherhood, the memories, and the bonds we\u2019ve built over these past two years. I will carry those moments with me for a lifetime,\u201d Lagway said.<\/p>\n

He continued with gratitude toward the broader Florida community: \u201cTo me coaches, the athletic training staff and every member of the University of Florida community \u2013 thank you for pouring into me, believing in me and showing me nothing but love and support throughout my time in Gainesville. After much prayer, reflection and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to On3 rankings, Lagway stood out as the ninth-best quarterback available in the portal and ranked 22nd among all transfers, underscoring his value despite his recent inconsistencies.<\/p>\n

For Baylor and head coach Dave Aranda, acquiring Lagway represents a major coup. It allows Aranda to prioritize strengthening the defense while handing the offensive keys to a quarterback with remaining eligibility and untapped upside. This addition positions the Bears to pursue greater balance and competitiveness in a wide-open Big 12 landscape. <\/p>\n

Lagway\u2019s arrival in Waco could signal a turning point for a program looking to rebound, providing excitement for fans eager to see his potential fully realized in a new environment. As the offseason progresses, all eyes will be on how he adapts and leads the Bears forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a significant move within college football\u2019s transfer portal, former Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway has decided to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":111349,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[232,234,233],"class_list":{"0":"post-111348","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tallahassee","8":"tag-tallahassee","9":"tag-tallahassee-headlines","10":"tag-tallahassee-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}