Ever since it was announced that DJ Lagway would leave Florida, most assumed he would wind up at Baylor. His dad played there, he is from Texas, and it seemed like a perfect fit. Shortly after Lagway officially entered the portal, it was announced that he had committed to the Bears after he had taken a visit to FSU.
But Lagway has yet to formally sign with Baylor, and after a seismic domino entered the QB transfer portal market at the last second, Lagway might be having second thoughts about his new home for 2026.
DJ Lagway is linked with Duke
Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports has reported that Duke is “interested” in trying to land Lagway. The Blue Devils are in need of a QB of their own for 2026 now that Darian Mensah hit the portal at the last moment. Most seem to think Mensah will wind up at Miami next year.
Sources tell me and @chris_hummer that one of the quarterbacks now of interest to Duke as a potential replacement for Darian Mensah is former Florida star QB DJ Lagway, who has been on the verge of heading to Baylor but hasn’t signed yet pic.twitter.com/GUul8Mrbd7
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 17, 2026
It continues what has been a long and winding offseason for the former Gator QB. Lagway announced plans to leave Gainesville shortly after a meeting with Jon Sumrall. Lagway’s camp has claimed it was not about money, but more the need for a fresh start as Florida moves on from the Billy Napier Era.
Shortly after leaving Florida, Lagway took a visit to FSU, which would have never been a smart move.
But even after “committing” to Baylor, Lagway has kept his options open. He was linked to Ole Miss the day after the Rebels were knocked out of the playoffs, and Trinidad Chambliss had his appeal for one more year of eligibility denied.
Now, whether Lagway himself has any interest in Duke is unclear at the time, but the fact that he hasn’t actually signed with Baylor paints a picture that Lagway is almost using the Bears as an option of last resort. If Baylor was Plan A, then sign with Baylor and be done with it.
Duke went 9-5 in 2025 and won the ACC title over Virginia.