5 Transfers Poised to Make the Biggest Impact for Baylor Football in 2026
As Baylor football’s first game against Auburn (Sept. 5) approaches, it’s time to start breaking down the roster, plus the biggest storylines and questions heading into the 2026 season. Today, we’ll assess the transfers slated to make the biggest impact on this year’s squad.
DJ Lagway | 6-3, 237| Junior | Willis, TX | Previous School: Florida
Obviously, the list starts with Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway. Formerly the No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, Lagway expressed interest in beginning his career in Waco, where his father, Derek, played from 1997 to 2001, but he took the scenic route and spent his first two years in Gainesville instead.
There were some high highs in his rookie campaign, including a 6-1 record in starts, the highest passer rating (154.9) in the country for a first-year quarterback and Freshman All-American honors. As a sophomore, however, there were some low lows, as Lagway began the year as a Heisman Trophy contender and closed the season injury-riddled with 14 interceptions.
Upon returning to the Lone Star State this offseason, head coach Dave Aranda likened Lagway’s experience at Florida to wearing a “straitjacket.” The duo has both expressed that the fresh start was much-needed and that Lagway seems much more comfortable in Waco.
If that can translate onto the turf at McLane Stadium on Saturdays, that should bode well for the Bears. Third-year offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who’s worked with a number of high-level quarterbacks throughout his career, put Lagway’s talent into perspective, saying, “When he plays confident, I think he’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve seen.”
Spavital later built on that quote, saying, “I think the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, there’s no question, it’s the confidence that we have in them, that he’s going to go make that game-winning drive, go make that play. I just believe that [DJ] gives everybody hope and confidence around here that we can go out there and execute at an extremely high level.”
Hosea Wheeler | 6-3, 306 | Sixth-Year Senior | Sacramento, CA | Previous School: Indiana
The big news on Tuesday was Hosea Wheeler being granted a temporary injunction to, at the very least, play the first three months of the season. While it’s unlikely, it could be overturned sometime in mid-to-late November, as Judge Ryan Luna requested a trial date within 90-120 days.
But let’s focus on the positive and talk about right now, which is that the Bears are getting a National Champion defensive tackle who posted 31 tackles, four for loss, 11 quarterback pressures and two fumble recoveries across 420 snaps last season at Indiana.
A significant reason why Baylor was able to land Wheeler this offseason was because his eligibility was up in the air, but now that he’s able to play, at least for the time being, the Bears can boast one of the best interior defensive linemen in the Big 12.
First-year defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who’s seen a lot of good defenses across his decade-plus tenure at North Dakota State and Kansas State, had this to say about Wheeler last Friday.
“Today was the first day of pads, and I’ll tell you what, [Hosea] was dominant. You knew when he was out there. It’s a frustrating thing for him, as it is for us, because we care about him. He’s handling it well. He’s expecting to be here. He’s doing everything on a daily basis, like he’s going to be here. He’s sacrificing his body like he’s going to be here.”
Kansas State transfer edge rusher Ryan Davis added, “He’s one of those guys you could look at and just be like, whatever happens on this play happens. I know you’re gonna go disrupt crap, and I’ll be right there with you.”
Devon Jordan | 5-11, 183 | Junior | Tulsa, OK | Previous School: Oklahoma
The acquisition of Oklahoma cornerback Devon Jordan from the transfer portal went a little under-the-radar this offseason because he was one of the first additions that the Bears made, and it was less than a month after National Signing Day, when Baylor lost its top three recruits.
There was understandably a lot of frustration and animosity in the air at the time, so some of the early transfer portal additions might have gotten lost in the shuffle, but since arriving on campus, Jordan has been one of the biggest risers in this portal class.
Cornerbacks coach Jeremy Modkins praised Jordan’s high football IQ and noted, “First and foremost, he’s a good dude. He really goes about his business the right way. He has a process about him. He’s smart, he can run and he can cover.”
The former four-star prospect played in all 13 games for the Sooners last season and was primarily used as the No. 3 cornerback. He totaled 16 tackles with two for a loss and one sack, while logging 351 snaps; he allowed 127 receiving yards on nine catches with 12 targets.
“He’s been very impactful,” fellow cornerback Reggie Bush II said when asked about Jordan. “He’s someone who’s always hardworking. He’s always getting extra work in. He’s a great corner. Clearly, it’s exciting to see someone like him and the hard work he puts in. It helps bring the whole group up. It brings the whole defense up because everyone sees it. Everyone sees the work he puts in.”
Ryan Davis | 6-4, 251 | Senior | Phoenix, AZ | Previous School: Kansas State
With Davis following Klanderman from Kansas State, the dynamic pass-rusher has become the de facto bridge between Klanderman and the rest of the front seven to help everyone get familiar with a new scheme.
“I definitely feel a responsibility to help out everybody, just because I've been in the defense for three years, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win,” Davis said. “If that’s helping guys out, staying after practice, talking through some things with some of the younger guys, or even some of the guys that are my age and older, then I’ll do whatever it takes.”
The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder has flashed plenty of potential, but has yet to put it all together, as he’s dealt with some injuries. After redshirting in 2023, Davis posted eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, 27 pressures, five pass breakups and a forced fumble across the last two seasons in Manhattan.
Davis earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors in a win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 15, where he had a sack, forced a fumble and five QB pressures. He put together his best performance of his young career in the final week of the season against Colorado on Nov. 29, totaling six tackles, two sacks and five QB pressures.
Gavin Freeman | 5-9, 181 | Fifth-Year Senior | Oklahoma City, OK | Previous School: Oklahoma State
Every quarterback needs a reliable target over the middle that’s tough as nails, and Oklahoma State transfer wide receiver Gavin Freeman seems to fit that mold.
The fifth-year senior has had an interesting career up to this point, as he began his career at Oklahoma, mostly as a threat in the return game. He transferred to OSU and caught just six passes for 45 yards in 2024.
Last year, however, Freeman had a breakout season on a 1-11 Cowboy team that had suboptimal quarterback play, to say the least. He hauled in 53 passes, totaling 481 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Freeman was also a threat in the run game, as he carried the rock 12 times for 48 yards.
Wide receivers coach Dallas Baker’s been a big fan of what Freeman’s has brought to the table, saying, “Gavin is extremely tough. … If there were a bear, I would be worried for the bear. No, if there were two bears, I’d be worried about them. The guy’s just tough. He holds himself to a certain standard.”
With the Bears, Freeman is expected to be Baylor’s starting slot receiver and has received the most buzz at the position, in addition to Louis Brown IV and Colorado transfer Dre’lon Miller.
