DJ Lagway is giving Baylor what Florida never got

DJ Lagway's time at Florida was defined by two things: flashes of five-star talent and an endless run of injury news. Calf strains, a shoulder issue, a walking boot after getting stepped on against Miami, a career-worst five-interception game against LSU. The talent was never the question. Staying on the field was. So when word came out of Waco that Lagway has been healthy since arriving at Baylor, that's not a small update. That's the entire storyline.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

Sources told @On3 that Baylor has been impressed with Florida transfer QB DJ Lagway since his arrival back in Waco. One of the most-followed transfers this offseason, Lagway has been healthy and emerged as a leader for the Bears. More: t.co/lRle5GyTmU

Pete Nakos reported that sources told On3 Baylor has been impressed with Lagway since he got back to Waco, and that he's already emerged as a leader in the building. That last part matters as much as the health. Lagway threw for 2,264 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 picks in 12 starts as a sophomore at Florida in 2025, numbers that came with plenty of noise about whether he was ready to be the guy a locker room rallies around. Early returns at Baylor say he is.

There's a family layer here too. Lagway's father, Derek, played running back for Baylor from 1997 to 2001. DJ went to high school in Willis, Texas, not far from campus, which means this isn't just a portal landing spot, it's something closer to a homecoming. Baylor beat out a real market for him this offseason, with Ole Miss among the programs chasing before he ultimately signed with the Bears.

Florida moved on from Billy Napier during the 2025 season and brought in Jon Sumrall, and Lagway hit the portal not long after. For Dave Aranda's Baylor program, landing a former five-star recruit who started as a true freshman in the SEC is the kind of swing that can reset expectations for a whole season. The catch was always going to be durability, and that's exactly the box Nakos's report says Lagway is currently checking.

None of this guarantees anything once the pads come on for real in 2026. Lagway's college career so far has been a stop-start story, and health reports in August have a habit of aging badly by October. But for a Baylor team that just handed its offense to a former five-star and a fanbase that's watched this kid grow up as a legacy pick, staying upright and settling in as a leader is the best possible start.