Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has played an uno reverse card for Gator fans. After announcing he would be staying in Gainesville after head coach Billy Napier was fired, Lagway has now announced he intends to enter the transfer portal, as reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Sources: Florida quarterback DJ Lagway intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He’s a former Top 10 recruit who was ESPN’s No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2024. pic.twitter.com/IjpQjUovbj
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 15, 2025
Lagway was one of the shining bright spots of Napier's time with the Gators up until the 2025 season. Some would say that Lagway's performance this season is what helped lead to the final downfall of the Napier era in Gainesville.
This is huge, as new head coach Jon Sumrall will now have to figure out who his starting quarterback will be in his first season with the Gators. Lagway was a former top 10 recruit out of high school, and 2024 was ranked the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in 2024.
In two seasons with Florida, Lagway appeared in 21 games, becoming the full-time starter in the 2025 season. Lagway made his debut in a Florida uniform in 2024 and became the starter midway through the season after Graham Mertz went down with a season-ending injury.
Lagway's time at Florida ends with mixed feelings and head-scratching choices
Many felt that 2025 was the year the Gators would return to the hierarchy of college football, with the charge being led by Lagway. Instead, it was the complete opposite as the Gators fell short of becoming bowl-eligible, and Lagway's stats were a big reason for Florida's offensive struggles.
The 2025 season was filled with turnovers for Lagway, and inconsistencies had fans scratching their head about what they saw in 2024. The former top recruit only threw for 11 touchdowns and had 12 interceptions, completing less than 60% of his passes. While he was dealing with an injury throughout the majority of the season, it was no excuse for his play.
After Lagway announced his intentions to stay in Gainesville after Napier's firing, fans were unsure how they felt about the choice, as they knew what he was capable of, but also how far he could fall.
Now Sumrall will have a blank slate when it comes to the Florida offense, which may not be the worst thing in the world.