DJ Lagway Jr.
Willis HS → Florida → Baylor · Quarterback
MaxPreps & Gatorade National Player of the Year. #1 QB in America. A 5-star Texas legend returning home to prove the doubters wrong — built for the NFL.
High School Career Stats — Willis HS (TX)
Sources: MaxPreps · UIL · Gatorade · 247Sports · Sports Illustrated
From Willis, TX to the National Stage
DJ Lagway Jr.'s journey is one of record-breaking performance, elite recognition, and a relentless drive to prove himself at every level.
MaxPreps National Player of the Year (2023)
After scoring 74 total touchdowns and throwing for 4,605 yards as a senior, MaxPreps named DJ Lagway its National High School Football Player of the Year — the highest individual honor in prep football.
Source: MaxPreps / Sports Illustrated
Gatorade National Football Player of the Year (2023)
Lagway won the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award — given to the nation's most elite prep athlete — recognizing both his 58 passing TDs (a Texas 6A state record), 4,604 passing yards, and his character off the field.
Source: Gatorade Player of the Year
5-Star Recruit — No. 1 QB in the Nation (Class of 2024)
Ranked as the #1 quarterback and a top-5 overall recruit in the entire country for the 2024 class by 247Sports, ESPN, and On3. Selected Florida over offers from Georgia, Miami, Alabama, and every elite program in America.
Source: 247Sports / ESPN / On3
Texas 6A State Record: 58 Passing TDs (Senior Year)
Set the Texas UIL 6A single-season passing touchdown record with 58 scores in 2023. Also threw for 4,604 yards on a 72.1% completion rate and added 953 rushing yards with 16 rushing TDs — totaling 74 touchdowns.
Source: UIL / MaxPreps / Gatorade
Career: 4,605 Yds · 59 TDs · 72.1% Completion
Over his high school career at Willis HS, Lagway completed 289 of 393 passes (72.1%) for 4,605 yards with 59 TDs and only 8 INTs, while also rushing for 953 yards and 16 TDs — demonstrating elite dual-threat ability.
Source: MaxPreps Career Stats / 247Sports
True Freshman Starter — Florida Gators (2024)
One of only a handful of 5-star QBs to start games as a true freshman in the SEC. Lagway appeared in 9 games for Florida in 2024, throwing for 1,915 yards, 12 TDs, and earning SEC All-Freshman recognition.
Source: Florida Gators Athletics / ESPN
2025 Florida Season: 2,264 Passing Yards, 16 TDs
As a sophomore in 2025, Lagway started 10 games for Florida totaling 2,264 passing yards and 16 touchdowns before entering the transfer portal in December 2025, citing the need for a fresh start.
Source: ESPN / SEC Network / Sports Reference
Baylor Transfer — Returning Home to Texas (2026)
Committed to Baylor on Jan. 18, 2026 — returning to his home state of Texas. His father Derek Lagway Sr. was a running back at Baylor, making this a homecoming. Analysts project him as an instant starter and Big 12 contender.
Source: ESPN / CBS Sports / Baylor Lariat
Dual-Threat Elite — NFL Draft Prospect
NFL Draft analysts at nfldraftbuzz.com have already profiled Lagway as a future NFL prospect, citing his arm strength, mobility, football IQ, and elite athleticism. At 6'3", 230 lbs, he has prototypical NFL QB size.
Source: NFL Draft Buzz / 247Sports Draft Board
Recruiting Journey: Willis HS → Florida → Baylor
Ranked as the #1 QB in America, DJ chose Florida over elite programs. After two seasons in Gainesville, he entered the portal ranked as the #1 transfer QB in the country and selected Baylor — reconnecting with his family roots.
Source: 247Sports / On3 / Tiger Rag
Family Athletic Pedigree
Son of Derek Lagway Sr., who played running back at Baylor. DJ's football roots are deep — trained by elite coaches and supported by a family that has lived and breathed the game at the collegiate level.
Source: Baylor Lariat / ESPN
SEC Media Days Featured Prospect (2025)
Head coach Billy Napier spotlighted Lagway at SEC Media Days 2025, saying: 'It's the most talented team we've had since we've been in Gainesville.' Lagway was listed among the Gators' top returners entering the 2025 season.
Source: SEC Network / CBS Sports
Florida Gators — College Career Stats
floridagators.com ↗2024 Freshman Season — Florida
2025 Sophomore Season — Florida
Sources: ESPN · Sports Reference · SEC Network
Career Bio — Official Record
Sources: Florida Gators Athletics · Baylor Athletics · MaxPreps · 247Sports · Gatorade · UIL · ESPN · CBS Sports
- Named MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year and Gatorade National Football Player of the Year for 2023 — completing a historic sweep of the top two prep football honors in the countryMaxPreps / Gatorade
- Set the Texas UIL 6A single-season passing TD record with 58 touchdowns as a senior — adding 16 rushing TDs for 74 total scores in 2023UIL / Gatorade Official Citation
- Completed 290 passes (72.1%) for 4,604 yards and 58 TDs his senior year, leading Willis to a 12-1 recordFlorida Gators Official Bio
- Ranked #1 quarterback nationally and top-5 overall recruit in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, ESPN, and On3. Selected Florida over Miami, Georgia, Alabama, and 20+ elite programs247Sports / On3 Recruiting Rankings
- Played in 9 games as a true freshman at Florida (2024) — 1,915 passing yards, 12 TDs, named to SEC All-Freshman teamFlorida Gators Athletics / ESPN
- Sophomore season at Florida (2025): 10 games, 2,264 passing yards, 16 TDs, ESPN QBR of 59.3ESPN / Sports Reference
- Entered transfer portal December 15, 2025 — immediately ranked #1 transfer QB in the country by analysts at 247Sports, On3, and Tiger Rag247Sports / Tiger Rag / ESPN
- Committed to Baylor on January 18, 2026 — his father Derek Lagway Sr. was a running back at Baylor, completing a full-circle family homecomingESPN / Baylor Lariat
- At 6'3", 230 lbs with elite arm talent and dual-threat ability, NFL Draft Buzz has already profiled him as a future NFL draft prospectNFL Draft Buzz
NFL Draft Projection & Pro Potential
Strengths for the Next Level
Development Areas / Concerns
NFL Comparison
Jalen Hurts / Lamar Jackson Mold
Dual-threat QB with elite size, arm talent, and rushing ability — the modern NFL QB archetype that commands top draft capital.
Draft Range (Post-Baylor)
Round 1–2 Candidate
With a clean 2026 season (3,000+ yards, sub-10 INTs), he's a realistic Day 1-2 pick. A down year keeps him Day 3.
Pro Ceiling
NFL Franchise QB
The physical tools are all there. His ceiling is a long-term NFL starter. The Baylor reset is the critical proving ground.
⚡ Key Takeaway
DJ Lagway has the physical profile of a future NFL starter — 6'3", 230 lbs, elite arm, and dual-threat ability. The Florida chapter showed he can compete at the highest level as a true freshman, but also exposed INT issues that the Baylor system should fix. One strong Big 12 season with low interceptions and 3,000+ yards could vault him back into first-round conversation ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft.
Side-by-Side Coach Comparison
Florida (Billy Napier) vs. Baylor (Dave Aranda) — who develops QBs better for DJ Lagway's profile?
Florida
Billy Napier
Baylor
Dave Aranda
Why This Matters for DJ: Florida gave Lagway the SEC stage and real starting reps, but the system didn't maximize his dual-threat ability. Baylor offers a homecoming, a Big 12 offense built for mobile QBs, and a head coach fully invested in a fresh offensive identity — exactly the environment DJ needs to rebuild his stock heading toward the NFL.
Articles, Broadcasts & Analyst Reviews
Coverage from ESPN, CBS Sports, 247Sports, Baylor Lariat, MaxPreps, and live broadcast analysts.
MaxPreps
2023 National HS Football Player of the Year
MaxPreps named DJ Lagway its National Player of the Year after his record-breaking senior season at Willis HS — 74 total TDs, 4,605 passing yards, and a Texas 6A state record 58 passing touchdowns. The award was announced with a TikTok feature that went viral with over 3,400 likes.
Gatorade Player of the Year
2023 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year
The Gatorade National Football Player of the Year — the most prestigious individual honor in high school athletics — went to DJ Lagway. The official citation read: 'The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior passed for 4,604 yards and a 6A state record 58 touchdowns, leading Willis to a 12-1 record.'
SEC Network / CBS Sports — Billy Napier (Florida HC)
"The most talented team we've had in Gainesville"
At 2025 SEC Media Days, Florida head coach Billy Napier directly cited DJ Lagway when describing his program's ceiling: 'It's the most talented team we've had since we've been in Gainesville.' Lagway was the centerpiece of that statement.
ESPN College Football / YouTube
DJ Lagway's Freshman Season Highlights — ESPN Feature
ESPN College Football produced an official freshman season highlight reel for Lagway, published on YouTube with wide distribution. The broadcast features his 1,915 passing yards and 12 TDs across 9 SEC appearances as a true freshman — one of the most watched QB highlight features of the 2024 season.
247Sports / On3 / Tiger Rag
#1 Transfer QB in the Country — Portal Coverage
When Lagway entered the transfer portal in December 2025, analysts immediately ranked him as the #1 transfer quarterback in the country. Tiger Rag reported: 'Florida's D.J. Lagway Expected to Enter Portal as No. 1 Transfer.' 247Sports tracked his Baylor commitment as the most high-profile QB transfer of the cycle.
Sports Reference / ESPN
College Career Stats — Florida Gators 2024-2025
Sports Reference and ESPN both track Lagway's full collegiate box score history: 2024 (9 games, 1,915 passing yards, 12 TDs) and 2025 (10 games, 2,264 passing yards, 16 TDs, 14 INTs). ESPN QBR ranked him 70th nationally in 2025.
Hudl / YouTube (Willis HS)
5-Star Senior Highlights — 74 TD Season Reel
Willis HS official Hudl and YouTube highlight reels from Lagway's record-breaking senior season circulated widely among college staffs. The reel showcases his arm talent, pocket presence, and dual-threat ability — viewed by coaches at Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and programs nationwide.
Baylor Lariat / SI.com
"Lagway Headlines Baylor's 2026 Transfer Class"
The Baylor Lariat officially covered his commitment: 'Former 5-star QB Lagway headlines incoming football transfer class.' SI.com noted: 'Fans are starting to have hope that bringing in Lagway is the piece that Baylor needs.' His father's Baylor legacy was widely covered as part of the story.
365 Sports (YouTube Interview)
DJ Lagway on Building Brotherhood at Baylor
In a YouTube interview on 365 Sports following his enrollment at Baylor, Lagway discussed his first weeks on campus: 'I'm focused on building chemistry with my new teammates and proving I'm the quarterback this program needs.' The interview highlighted his maturity and leadership.
The Transfer Portal Is a Minefield.
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