There is expected to be an SEC team to watch for Florida QB DJ Lagway if he opts for the Transfer Portal following the 2025 season 

The future for Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is very much up in the air. With the Billy Napier era coming to an end, there could be another SEC school to watch.

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Sep 13, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) scrambles out the pocket to pass against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

It has been a season of frustration for Florida quarterback DJ Lagway. Heading into the 2025 college football season, most expected the sophomore to be one of the biggest breakout players in the entire country. Through four games, the 6-3, 247-pound signal caller has thrown for just 690 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. 

That ascension as a football player has not happened, and the future of Lagway and the Florida Gators is as cloudy as ever.

There has been a report this week that Lagway has been spotted in a walking boot. This past offseason, Lagway dealt with a lower leg injury, as well as recurring shoulder ailments. With the start of Lagway and the Gators, there appears to be an intention to redshirt Lagway and get him back to full health. It feels like a business decision was made from both sides.

With the recent redshirt news, there will also begin to be some speculation about what the long-term future is going to look like for the Texas native. Florida head coach Billy Napier is on the hot seat, and most believe a new coach will lead the Gators in 2026. That makes it unlikely to see Lagway back in Gainesville, although not impossible.

When that era does come to an end here, there is a growing opinion that Lagway may entertain options that could be out there via the Transfer Portal when it opens up in January, or even sooner, depending on when Coach Napier is relieved of his duties. Utilizing the redshirt only strengthens the potential demand for Lagway by preserving a year of eligibility. 

Could LSU be in the mix for Lagway?

If and when Lagway does pursue other options, head coach Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are expected to have real interest. They pursued Lagway throughout the 2024 recruiting class, but he decided to stick with the Gators. There’s no reason to believe that the interest from the LSU side will not be there once again. 

For Lagway, LSU would be a very appealing fit. They are a program that consistently churns out outstanding wide receiver rooms, and they have also done a good job on the offensive line in recent years. Working with offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and all that skill position talent would be a solid move for the talented signal caller. 

With Garrett Nussmeier leaving for the NFL following this season, the future of the quarterback position in Baton Rouge is a bit up in the air. There is some intrigue surrounding former Mississippi State standout Michael Van Buren, but he hasn’t earned the full trust without competition up until this point. Outside of Van Buren, the cupboard is bare for the future as well. 

Colin Hurley signed with the Tigers in that aforementioned 2024 class, but there doesn’t seem to be a ton of excitement about him behind the scenes. LSU also failed to sign a quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class after Bryce Underwood flipped to Michigan. Kelly and his staff also do not hold a commitment from a 2026 quarterback either, lacking overall options in that room right now. This would likely have forced the Tigers to utilize the Portal regardless.

Lagway could, in theory, walk into the LSU room and become the starting quarterback early if healthy. Until Lagway declares his intentions to enter the Portal, it is nothing more than speculation right now. There are, however, some very real feelings that are where things are heading. When they do, keep a close eye on LSU.

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