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DJ Lagway will not play football at the University of Florida in 2026. The former five-star quarterback will transfer out of Gainesville ahead of his junior season.
His father posted a series of high school highlights on X after the portal announcement. The clips shined light on the Gators‘ inability to develop his son.
Lagway entered his NCAA career with boatloads of hype. He was the top passer in his recruiting class, and the best prospect of the Billy Napier era.
He made an immediate impact upon seeing the field. The signal caller took over midway through his freshman year following an injury to starter Graham Mertz.
He quickly led the team to a 6-1 record across seven starts to save Billy Napier from firing. He could not do the same as a sophomore.
Florida started the year 3-4. Lagway battled injuries while watching production decline.
The star quarterback finished the year with an SEC-leading 14 interceptions. The offense ranked 110th in the nation in scoring. The Gators finished 4-8.
Napier was fired after Game 7. His replacement was named in December.
DJ Lagway did not gel with Jon Sumrall.
According to recent reports, the passer intended to return to Gainesville for his third season. He had a change of heart following a meeting with the new staff.
A source close to Lagway expressed an almost melancholy sentiment. “He wanted to be (at Florida),” the source said…
Even with the coaching change and a tough season, Lagway wanted to remain in Gainesville… The parting happened somewhat suddenly.
Lagway’s initial meeting with the new Florida staff did not go well, per multiple sources. New Florida head coach Jon Sumrall questioned who Lagway is as a football player…
Lagway wasn’t looking for a guarantee of a starting role. He wanted to hear he’d be developed and what that plan looked like. Lagway felt like that wasn’t presented by the new Florida brass.
-Chris Hummer / CBS Sports
Money was not said to be the issue. Lagway was open to hearing the new staff out. When he didn’t get the answers he’d hoped for, he left.
There are two sides to the story. While the report claims that Lagway wasn’t searching for a guaranteed starting role, he wanted to know that he’d be developed in an offense that highlighted his best attributes.
The new staff presented its plan, which might’ve involved a bit more running from the QB position. It challenged its quarterback to maximize potential. Lagway, supposedly, didn’t like it.
Whatever the case, DJ Lagway is leaving Florida. His father is hopeful the passer will be better developed at his next stop.
Derek Lagway Sr. responded to the transfer news.
You will see this again 🙏🏾 https://t.co/9dB3ZSMRTQ
— Derek Lagway Sr (@DerekLagway1) December 15, 2025
DJ Lagway’s dad posted a series of highlight reels showing his son’s playing career. He promised followers that they’d see his son playing at the highest level again soon.
Scrolling through his timeline, you’ll notice that none of the clips showed the passer at Florida. The Gators were unable to be develop Lagway. Part of that was due to coaching. Part of it was due to injuries.
Lagway will not give the Gators’ incoming staff the opportunity to make its mark. Instead, he plans to find that development elsewhere.
There will be a number of suitors vying for his commitment. Names mentioned include Texas Tech, Baylor, Miami, and LSU.
Each of those schools and/or coaching staffs has a history of producing success at the quarterback position.
DJ Lagway was not a five-star talent at Florida, particularly in his latest campaign. Growth was not seen on the field. The passer’s father is hopeful his next team can recreate that high school success.