DJ Lagway spent 2 years at Florida looking like one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country whenever he could actually stand up straight. He was ESPN's No. 1 dual-threat QB in the 2024 class, started as a true freshman, and helped the Gators rip off 4 straight wins late that season, including over ranked teams. Then his body started betraying him. A hamstring injury cost him time in 2024. A shoulder issue and sports hernia surgery wiped out his 2025 spring. A calf strain ate into preseason camp. By the time Florida fired Billy Napier during a disappointing 2025 season, Lagway had thrown 16 touchdowns against a team-high 14 interceptions, and the injury list kept growing behind the scenes.
So when Pete Nakos reports that Lagway has been healthy since landing at Baylor, that's not a throwaway line. It's the headline.
The move itself made plenty of sense on paper before health ever entered the picture. Lagway's father, Derek, played running back at Baylor, and DJ grew up in Willis, Texas, about 2 hours from Waco. He committed there in January after a portal saga that included an Ole Miss visit, then officially signed once the dust settled. Baylor, coming off a 5-7 season under Dave Aranda and needing to replace outgoing starter Sawyer Robertson, landed one of the most talented and most-followed names in the entire transfer cycle.
What Nakos's report adds is the part that doesn't show up on a recruiting graphic: Lagway has reportedly emerged as a leader in the building, not just a name on the depth chart. For a guy whose college career to this point has been defined almost as much by trainers' tables as by his arm, that's the more interesting development. Talent was never the question with Lagway. Availability was.
Baylor's staff clearly believes the move to a program with family ties and a fresh start can settle him, and early signs of a healthy, vocal Lagway are exactly what a rebuilding Bears roster needs heading into 2026. The Big 12 race gets a lot more interesting if the talent finally gets to stay on the field for a full season.