Where will DJ Lagway transfer? Best fits for Gators’ quarterback, including Miami

Oh, how much can change in just a few months.

Entering this fall, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway was tied for the 10th-best Heisman odds in the nation, and the Gators were a projected fringe College Football Playoff team. Unlike any preseason in the past five years, Florida had legitimate reasons for hope.

So the Gators’ 4-8 season — their worst in more than four decades — was particularly painful.

The team suffered another gut punch earlier this month when Lagway, a top-10 recruit in the 2024 class, announced he would enter the transfer portal when it opens Friday. Florida’s new staff, led by coach Jon Sumrall, would have to rebuild without the quarterback who captivated fans by winning four consecutive games to end the 2024 season.

The 2025 season obviously was a different story, with few victories and 16 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions, the most in the Southeastern Conference. But he still showed flashes of the tools that made him such a coveted recruit. He will likely be highly south in the portal; he currently is No. 4 in 247Sports’ transfer rankings at all positions.

A look at some of his potential landing places.

BAYLOR

If Lagway wants to go to a Playoff contender — and he figures to have a couple of options — this won’t be the stop. But the connection here is notable. Lagway is from Willis, Texas, which is about two hours south of Waco. The Bears were involved in his recruitment out of high school, partially because his father played at the school. And 2025 starter Sawyer Roberson, whose 31 passing touchdowns were second in the country this year, is set to depart. Baylor’s pitch to Lagway will be predicated on returning to his home state. And offensive coordinator Jake Spavital’s up-tempo, pass-heavy offense (Roberson led the closest Power 4 quarterback by 30 attempts) should be attractive for a quarterback looking to jump his production.

CLEMSON

The Tigers haven’t been themselves in recent years, but it would be hard to turn down the opportunity to start at a name-brand program where, most notably, he would face a weaker schedule than anything he saw in the SEC (And yes — this also applies to Miami; see below.) Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is entering the draft, and his backup, Christopher Vizzina, saw extensive action in only two games.

TEXAS TECH

When Lagway originally announced he would enter the portal, this match felt like a stretch. But in recent days, Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola has reportedly drifted from Tech’s radar, and Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby has drawn interest from Tennessee. If both of these options go elsewhere, Tech could become the best team interested in Lagway, though maybe not the best fit for his NFL Draft aspirations. The Red Raiders run an up-tempo offense referred to as the veer-and-shoot, and its principles aren’t common in NFL schemes.

LSU

Lane Kiffin needs a quarterback to begin his Baton Rouge experiment, and Lagway has SEC experience that no other current option offers. Florida and Kiffin’s last school, Ole Miss, faced Lagway twice. In 2024, Florida won 24-17 and Lagway passed for 180 yards with two TDs and one interception. In 2025, Florida lost 34-24 as Lagway passed for 218 yards with one touchdown. Kiffin has previously heaped praise on Lagway, saying he can “play as well as anyone in the country.” Kiffin even retweeted the announcement that Lagway was transferring.

Kiffin’s quarterback this season at Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss, has filed for a sixth year of eligibility, so he could be a candidate at LSU if the NCAA grants his waiver.

MIAMI

While the Hurricanes’ focus is on the CFP, they will enter their third consecutive offseason in need of a quarterback. Their track record makes them a viable in-state option for Lagway, who’s reportedly seeking a climate where he can be coached hard and improve his draft stock. That is what Cam Ward did at Miami in 2024, going No. 1overall in the draft, and Carson Beck did this season. Shannon Dawson’s Miami offense could be perfect to get the most out of Lagway’s highly touted skills.

Others out there: Vanderbilt, Virginia, USC, Georgia Tech.

This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM.