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GAINESVILLE — DJ Lagway could go from Florida’s quarterback the past two seasons to the signal caller for archrival Florida State.
Lagway’s search for a new school will reportedly land him in Tallahassee Sunday for a visit, and potentially set the stage for a showdown Nov. 28, 2026 in Doak Campbell Stadium.
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Lagway announced Dec. 15 he planned to enter the transfer portal when it opened Friday after a disappointing sophomore season with the 4-8 Gators, culminating with a 40-21 rout of the Seminoles Nov. 29 in the Swamp.
Lagway threw three touchdowns against FSU, giving him just 16 in 2025 against an SEC-leading 14 interceptions, including one against the Seminoles.
The 6-foot-3, 247-pound Lagway is the No. 4 available quarterback according to 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings and sure to have many suitors, including Baylor and Virginia. LSU and Miami were mentioned as early possibilities for Lagway’s services, but the 20-year-old is likely to take a sizable pay cut after he earned nearly $4 million in NIL money in 2025.
Florida State looks to replace Boston College transfer Tommy Castellanos, who threw for 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns, along with nine interceptions. He also ran for 557 yards and nine scores. Castellanos dropped his appeal for another season and entered the NFL draft.
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Lagway aims to put 2025 behind him and live up to his promise as the nation’s No. 1 quarterback recruiting in 2024 and the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year.
UF will turned to redshirt freshman Trammel Jones Jr. and is likely to sign Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo to reconnect with new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who coached Philo while he was the Yellowjackets’ backup the past two seasons.
Expected to be a rising star and potential Heisman contender for a program coming off its first winning season in three years, Lagway battled injuries during the offseason and failed to meet expectations. His struggles included a five-interception game during a loss at LSU, 61-yard passing night at Miami and three-interception effort during a 38-7 loss at Kentucky.
Lagway was 6-1 as a starter in 2024 when he replaced injured veteran Graham Mertz. Lagway finished second nationally to Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart with an average of 10 yards per attempt and second in the SEC in passer rating (154.93) to Dart, a first-round pick by the N.Y. Giants.
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But Lagway completed only 59.9% of his throws and had a 12-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He then underwent sports hernia surgery and endured a right shoulder injury that prevented him from throwing during spring practices.
A calf injury leading up to fall camp further limited the third-team preseason All-SEC selection.
He was 213-of-337 passing (63.2%) for 2,264 yards in 2025, while he averaged a meager 6.7 yards per attempt and posted a passer rating (127) better than only one SEC quarterback — Auburn’s Jackson Arnold. He also ran for 244 yards and a score on 51 rushing attempts.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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