With DJ Lagway entering the transfer portal, the options at quarterback for Jon Sumrall are appealing in different ways

Jon Sumrall will be looking for a new quarterback to replace DJ Lagway, and there are some really intriguing options.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Dec 6, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah (10) celebrates after the Blue Devils score a touchdown in overtime during the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Florida Gators sent a shockwave throughout the college football world when reports surfaced that quarterback DJ Lagway was planning on entering the transfer portal after meetings with head coach Jon Sumrall and the coaching staff, which reportedly didn’t go well.

That has sparked a big discussion across the board about who could end up being the next quarterback of the Gators. The Gators are one of the premier programs, and Sumrall is a really good recruiter.

We don’t have every quarterback who will be in the transfer portal announced at this point, but the next couple of weeks will end up giving us more names. Right now, these are the quarterbacks who make the most sense to potentially be the next starting quarterback in Gainesville.

Florida Gators transfer portal quarterback options

Aidan Chiles, Michigan State

Sumrall has had some varied offenses in his time as a head coach. One of the things that he’s featured is a quarterback run game. While Chiles hasn’t quite lived up to his potential at Oregon State and Michigan State, he’s got a live arm and great movement skills that could maximize Buster Faulkner’s offense.

Dylan Raiola, Nebraska

The former five-star quarterback has been very up-and-down in Lincoln, including suffering a season-ending injury this year. While most know him as the “Patrick Mahomes cosplayer,” the former five-star son of a former NFL offensive lineman, Raiola has the good to be a successful NFL quarterback, but he still needs some development. Getting into Gainesville and working with a coordinator like Faulkner could be just the ticket to maximizing his ability.

Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

Leavitt led the Arizona State Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff last year and was excellent for head coach Kenny Dillingham. He threw for 2,885 yards and 24 interceptions as a redshirt freshman after transferring from Michigan State, while also running for 443 yards and five touchdowns. This year was marred by injuries, as he played in just seven games with 10 touchdowns through the air and five on the ground. He announced his intention to transfer earlier this month, and Florida could end up being an option.

CJ Bailey, NC State

Of all the talented quarterbacks in the Power Four, Bailey might be the best one you’ve likely never seen play. The ACC hasn’t been a great conference for some time, but there is a lot to like about his game. He makes NFL quality throws with consistency, and took a big step forward this year. He threw for 2,884 yards and 23 touchdowns to just nine interceptions in Raleigh, and he did so without KC Concepcion, who transferred to the Texas A&M Aggies before the 2025 season. He will be highly sought-after in the transfer portal.

Aaron Philo, Georgia Tech

This isn’t going to be a sexy option for the Gators, but one that brings continuity. Philo played for Buster Faulkner over the last two years, and looks like an interesting player. He won’t be the guy that you bring in to be the unquestioned guy, but someone like Philo could compete with Trammel Jones.

Darian Mensah, Duke

The most obvious player to be linked to the Gators is Mensah. He played for Sumrall in 2024 with a lot of success at Tulane, but he left in the transfer portal to head to Duke. He got a very nice NIL package from the Blue Devils and led them to the ACC Championship. With the connection to Sumrall and the assets that the Gators have on offense, Mensah could see immediate success in Gainesville.

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