Former Gators quarterback DJ Lagway entered the 2025 season as a top-10 Heisman candidate but needed an escape from the program by December.
During Wednesday’s 2026 Big 12 Football Media Days, Baylor coach Dave Aranda said Lagway found freedom with his new program after surviving a “straitjacket” experience in Gainesville.
“He’s very driven, there is a huge chip on his shoulder,” Aranda said. “I could see on the recruiting trip someone that just wanted to be free. He was someone that [was] just all boxed in and boxed up and just wanted to be free, express himself [and] play free. And I think he’s felt that [Freedom] at Baylor.”
Lagway made 19 starts across two seasons, compiling a 10-9 record before opting for the transfer portal Dec. 15, 2025 after a 4-8 season. Even after Billy Napier’s midseason departure, he reportedly wanted to stick with the program until initial meetings with the new coaching staff went south when coach Jon Sumrall questioned Lagway as a player, according to CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer.
As a freshman year, he led Florida to six wins, tying Chris Leak’s record for most program wins as a true freshman, and totaled 1,915 yards, earning College Football News Freshman Quarterback of the Year.
The breakout year cranked up the pressure heading into the 2025 season, but Lagway couldn’t find his stride, heading an offense that ranked 111th nationally in scoring. Aranda believes the quarterback will find his game again with the Bears.
“He’s smiling more, he’s open more, he’s engaging with teammates more,” Aranda said. “He’s just totally engaged, totally driven. So guys are connected to him and want to play for him, they don’t want to let him down.”
In March, Lagway opened up to Matt Hayes of USA TODAY about dealing with isolation and depression while at Florida.Once in Texas, Lagway immediately made strides towards fostering connections, paying for 15 of his teammates to join him in Miami for spring break. Throughout the offseason, he’s taken the offensive line out to eat, led seven-on-seven practice and hosted film sessions at his house.
“It’s been crucial letting guys see who you are outside of football and being able to build those relationships with good memories that will last a lifetime,” Lagway said at Big 12 Media Days. “When you step on the field and look at who you got next to you and know that you have good memories with that guy and you know who he is as a person it’s a blessing.”
After a 2025 offseason plagued by injuries, Lagway appreciates the opportunity to fine tune his game while healthy. He stayed sidelined with a shoulder injury during spring training and suffered a calf injury on the eve of fall camp in July of 2025, causing him to miss out on valuable practice reps.
His game teetered in 2025, throwing 16 touchdowns but 14 interceptions, including three first-half interceptions against Kentucky on Nov. 8, 2025, earning a spot on the bench for the remainder of the game, but Lagway’s confident his healthy offseason will translate on the field.
“I’m blessed to be in the situation I’m in, having an offseason and being healthy and working on things that I haven’t been able to work on since my freshman year,” Lagway said. “[There were] things that I needed to clean up. So I’m just excited to really go out there and put it all together. It’s going to be fun.”
