DJ Lagway has a ton of potential, and the Baylor Bears are hoping he’ll reach it in 2026.
Lagway is the former No. 1 overall quarterback recruit in the country, but he didn’t get much of a chance to show that in his first two college seasons.
He committed to then-head coach Billy Napier and the Florida Gators out of high school and had an up-and-down two seasons with the Gators.
There were a ton of problems at Florida, and many of them weren’t Lagway’s fault. There’s a reason Napier got fired mid-season.
When things were good, though, Lagway scratched some of that potential. He threw for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. Yes, he threw nine interceptions as well, but he was a true freshman playing in the SEC. Those could be excused.
They were less excusable in 2025. As a sophomore, he threw for 2,264 yards and 16 touchdowns, but also 14 interceptions.
Again, Lagway was far from the problem at Florida. Napier recently admitted that things had gotten so bad for him in Gainesville that he should have given up play-calling.
Lagway’s new coach, Baylor’s Dave Aranda, also recently made comments suggesting he’s well aware of the limitations that were placed on the quarterback at Florida.
“He’s very driven; there is a huge chip on his shoulder. I could see on the recruiting trip, … I could see someone that just wanted to be free,” Aranda said of Lagway at Big 12 Media Days (h/t On3). “Like (he was in) a straitjacket, maybe, someone that is just all boxed in and boxed up and just wanted to be free, express himself, play free. And I think he’s felt that (freedom) … at Baylor.”
DJ Lagway is feeling more comfortable now that he’s with Baylor
It’s now up to Aranda and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital to try to unlock Lagway, but they’ve got a track record of getting the most out of quarterbacks. Last season, redshirt senior Sawyer Robertson threw for 3,681 yards and 31 touchdowns (12 interceptions) and earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors.
Now in Waco, Texas, it’s worth noting that Lagway is also back in a space where he’s comfortable. His father, Derek Sr., was a running back at Baylor from 1997 to 2001. The younger Lagway is also much closer to Willis, Texas, where he grew up.
Aranda sees a quarterback who is mentally doing well, and perhaps that couldn’t have been said for Lagway at Florida.
“He’s smiling more, he’s open more, he’s engaging with teammates more. He’s taken the O-line out to eat, he’s taken the receivers off to (practice) seven-on-seven, or they’re at his house watching films,” Aranda said of Lagway. “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.”
