Baylor has landed one of the biggest quarterback additions of the transfer cycle. Former Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has officially committed to the Bears out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, giving the program a proven, high-upside signal-caller with two years of eligibility remaining.
Lagway announced his decision Thursday following an official visit to Waco, where he was spotted alongside Baylor head coach Dave Aranda at Wednesday night’s Baylor–Iowa State men’s basketball game. The appearance fueled speculation that quickly turned into confirmation.
A former Five-Star Plus+ recruit and the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, Lagway represents a major portal coup for Baylor. In On3’s current Transfer Portal Player Rankings, he was rated as a top-25 overall transfer and one of the highest-graded quarterbacks available.
The move also carries a strong personal connection. Lagway’s father, Derek Lagway, played running back for Baylor in the 1990s, and DJ hails from Willis, Texas — roughly 170 miles southeast of Waco — making the transfer a return to familiar territory.
Lagway chose Baylor after also visiting Florida State and Virginia, with additional interest coming from multiple Big Ten programs. Ultimately, the Bears won out with a combination of opportunity, fit, and family ties.
The 6-foot-3, 247-pound quarterback arrives in Waco with significant on-field experience. He started 19 games over two seasons at Florida and appeared in 24 total contests for the Gators. As a true freshman, Lagway helped guide Florida to a 6–1 record in his starts.
Across his collegiate career, Lagway has compiled more than 4,400 total yards of offense and 29 combined touchdowns. During the 2025 season, he threw for 2,264 yards on 213-of-337 passing with 16 touchdowns in 12 games, showing flashes of the arm talent and mobility that once made him the nation’s top-rated quarterback recruit.
For Baylor, the addition signals an aggressive portal approach and a potential reset at the quarterback position heading into the 2026 season. Lagway’s blend of size, arm strength, and high-level game experience immediately raises the Bears’ offensive ceiling.
With Lagway now in the fold, Baylor secures one of the headline transfers of the offseason — and a quarterback capable of reshaping the program’s trajectory in the Big 12.
Source coverage and transfer context available via On3’s NCAA Transfer Portal .
