Former Five-Star Quarterback Chooses Waco After High-Profile Recruitment
The Baylor Bears just got better overnight. DJ Lagway, the former Florida quarterback who entered the 2024 recruiting cycle as the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect, has committed to Dave Aranda’s program. This is the kind of pickup that changes the trajectory of a program.
Lagway brings two years of eligibility to Waco, and he’s not coming in as some raw, unproven talent. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound signal-caller has already started 19 games over two seasons in the SEC. He’s thrown for over 4,400 total yards and accounted for 29 combined touchdowns during his time with the Gators. This past season alone, he put up 2,264 passing yards with 16 touchdowns in 12 games.
The commitment came Thursday following an official visit to campus, where Lagway was spotted sitting courtside with Aranda at the Baylor-Iowa State basketball game. Photos of the two together spread quickly on social media, and by the next morning, the deal was done.
Big 12 Programs Circle as Lagway Makes His Choice
Lagway didn’t lack options. He’d already taken visits to Florida State and Virginia, and several Big Ten programs were actively recruiting him. But Baylor had something the others didn’t: a direct family connection. His father, Derek, played running back for the Bears in the 1990s. Add in the fact that Lagway grew up in Willis, Texas—just 170 miles from campus—and the fit made too much sense.
For Aranda and the Bears, landing Lagway is a statement. He was the top quarterback in the 2024 class and the No. 1 player in Texas. Now he’s heading to the Big 12 with the kind of starting experience most transfer quarterbacks don’t have. As a true freshman at Florida, Lagway went 6-1 in seven starts. That’s not a guy learning on the job—that’s a proven winner.
What Lagway Brings to the Big 12
Baylor is getting a quarterback who has faced elite competition in the SEC and lived to tell about it. Lagway completed 213 of 337 passes this past season, and while his 14 interceptions show there’s room to grow, the arm talent and decision-making are there. He’s also a legitimate dual-threat, which opens up Aranda’s playbook in ways it hasn’t been in recent years.
The Bears needed a jolt at the most important position on the field, and they got it. Lagway was ranked as the No. 9 quarterback and No. 22 overall player in On3’s Transfer Portal Player Rankings for this cycle, making him one of the most coveted quarterbacks available. Now he’s in Waco, and the Big 12 better take notice.
