Baylor Football

Breaking: Baylor Lands Florida QB and Former Five-Star DJ Lagway as 2026 Signal-Caller

The Bears land a massive quarterback prospect and a former five-star recruit.
By Grayson Grundhoefer
January 8, 2026
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Photo by @Matt Pendleton

2026 Baylor Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Baylor just made an enormous splash, as former five-star Florida quarterback transfer DJ Lagway committed to the Bears following his official visit on Jan. 7, immediately reshaping the program’s trajectory.

Lagway is a consensus top-10 quarterback and top-25 overall prospect in the transfer portal rankings. DJ is also a Baylor legacy, as his father, Derek, played running back for the Bears from 1997 to 2001. He is the ninth transfer portal player to commit this cycle and the lone quarterback.

Lagway entered the 2025 season as a preseason Heisman Trophy contender, but the fall didn’t go as planned for the Gators, as head coach Billy Napier was fired midseason. Lagway threw for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, while battling through some injuries.

As a freshman, he threw for 1,915 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He took over for an injured Graham Mertz and led the Gators to an 8-5 season with four-straight wins to close the season over LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane.

The former Gatorade Player of the Year totaled 5,558 yards of offense and 75 touchdowns during his senior season at Willis High School (TX). During his three-year high school career, he threw for 8,393 yards and 101 touchdowns, while rushing for 2,197 yards and 29 touchdowns.

The Baylor legacy was the No. 1 quarterback in the nation for the 2024 recruiting class and a five-star prospect, according to 247Sports, and chose Florida over virtually every school in the nation.

Lagway has two years of eligibility remaining and is set to become the highest-ranked high school prospect Baylor has ever rostered. His commitment will likely create a recruiting ripple effect, helping the Bears secure an even better transfer portal class.

Overall, Lagway is an ideal fit for offensive coordinator Jake Spavital’s scheme. His elite play-action grades align perfectly with an offense built around a strong rushing attack that sets up explosive downfield throws. Plus, his mobility enhances the scheme, as evidenced by his prolific rushing production in high school, adding potentially another dynamic dimension to the offense.

New Members: Get the latest transfer portal intel with SicEm365 Premium Today for $1

81 Comments
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Jake Spavital Green & Gold Reports Dave Aranda DJ Lagway Derek Lagway Football Football Recruiting Baylor 2025
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Breaking: Baylor Lands Florida QB and Former Five-Star DJ Lagway as 2026 Signal-Caller

17,239 Views | 81 Replies | Last: 18 hrs ago by cross59roads
BBWCBear
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3:32p, 1/9/26
It was just stated on Sicem 365 Live with David & Craig Smoak that Laqway "IS STILL VISITING SCHOOLS" until 'officially" signed. Ole Miss comes into the equation because of Chambliss waiver denied. Soooo... once again BU may or may not "Win" the battle.
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Youre a clown
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In reply to BBWCBear • 3:38p, 1/9/26
BBWCBear said:
It was just stated on Sicem 365 Live with David & Craig Smoak that Laqway "IS STILL VISITING SCHOOLS" until 'officially" signed. Ole Miss comes into the equation because of Chambliss waiver denied. Soooo... once again BU may or may not "Win" the battle.


I can honestly say that I'm cool if he wants to come here and cool if he doesn't.

People can post all these photos of him as a kid hugging RGIII or whatever, but at the end of the day, it's obvious he sees us as a backup plan, despite the fact that we offered him $2 million….that's just how modern football goes
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boognish_bear
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4:58p, 1/9/26
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In reply to boognish_bear • 5:04p, 1/9/26
boognish_bear said:


That's cool and good to hear, but we heard the exact same thing with Novosad. Everybody is "all in" until the better offer comes along. Is he going to be on the phone helping build our roster while visiting Ole Miss?


the best way he could help build our roster is to take a team friendly NIL deal so that Baylor can use the difference to buy better receivers and offensive linemen.
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BUATX2000
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In reply to Youre a clown • 5:10p, 1/9/26
Youre a clown said:
boognish_bear said:


That's cool and good to hear, but we heard the exact same thing with Novosad. Everybody is "all in" until the better offer comes along. Is he going to be on the phone helping build our roster while visiting Ole Miss?


the best way he could help build our roster is to take a team friendly NIL deal so that Baylor can use the difference to buy better receivers and offensive linemen.


Well unlike Novosad and Oregon, I don't think Ole Miss has a billionaire with a shoe empire willing to fly in to drop a bag on him at the 11th hour.

We were trying to sell Novosad on an NIL strategy of "everyone gets the same thing" and Phil knight said "here's $2mm". I think we will be okay.
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In reply to BUATX2000 • 5:17p, 1/9/26
BUATX2000 said:
Youre a clown said:
boognish_bear said:


That's cool and good to hear, but we heard the exact same thing with Novosad. Everybody is "all in" until the better offer comes along. Is he going to be on the phone helping build our roster while visiting Ole Miss?


the best way he could help build our roster is to take a team friendly NIL deal so that Baylor can use the difference to buy better receivers and offensive linemen.


Well unlike Novosad and Oregon, I don't think Ole Miss has a billionaire with a shoe empire willing to fly in to drop a bag on him at the 11th hour.

We were trying to sell Novosad on an NIL strategy of "everyone gets the same thing" and Phil knight said "here's $2mm". I think we will be okay.



Point being, this recruiting battle is not over. I hope that Dave is already working on a contingency plan. I would bet that Ole Miss could scrounge up enough money to match our offer if they really want him, and I would also bet that they can get better skill players and linemen around him than we can. I know that the prestige of playing in the SEC is a big deal to Lagway as well.

RGIII's comments today about how a quarterback shouldn't have to be out recruiting and how you have to sell them on the pieces around them is telling
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BBWCBear
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In reply to BUATX2000 • 5:19p, 1/9/26
BUATX2000 said:
Youre a clown said:
boognish_bear said:


That's cool and good to hear, but we heard the exact same thing with Novosad. Everybody is "all in" until the better offer comes along. Is he going to be on the phone helping build our roster while visiting Ole Miss?


the best way he could help build our roster is to take a team friendly NIL deal so that Baylor can use the difference to buy better receivers and offensive linemen.


Well unlike Novosad and Oregon, I don't think Ole Miss has a billionaire with a shoe empire willing to fly in to drop a bag on him at the 11th hour.

We were trying to sell Novosad on an NIL strategy of "everyone gets the same thing" and Phil knight said "here's $2mm". I think we will be okay.


I'll just add Ole Miss was in the FF and doing well and RG III thinks Baylor would be more attractive with some receivers. $$$$, playoffs, Fan enthusiasm and locked in could easily sway things.
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Cove Dawg
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7:06p, 1/9/26
This post s a lie!
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PartyBear
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7:20p, 1/9/26
Which post?
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Youre a clown
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In reply to Cove Dawg • 7:32p, 1/9/26
Cove Dawg said:
This post s a lie!

"Breaking: Florida quarterback tells Dave that he may formally agree to accept a huge stack of cash to play at Baylor if he can't get a better offer in the next few days somewhere else" doesn't have the same ring to it and doesn't sell subscriptions.
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cross59roads
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7:52p, 1/9/26
T Chambliss was offered $5 million to come back to Ole Miss but NCAA said no to 6th year
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