The DJ Lagway era is over with Florida football.
It began with so much promise, with Lagway throwing for 456 yards and 3 TDs on a humid September night at The Swamp against Samford in his first career start with the Florida Gators. Fans chanted his name after each big downfield throw. The possibilities appeared limitless.
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Lagway went 6-1 as a starter as a true freshman in 2024 living up to the hype coming out of Willis High School in Willis, Texas, as the Gatorade High School player of the year. Sure, he threw some picks (nine to 12 TDs in 2024) and maybe he didn’t run as much as advertised (a hamstring injury against Georgia contributed to that) but that was nothing a full offseason of healing and development couldn’t fix.
Only there was no healing, which resulted in no offseason development.
Whispers began about Lagway’s shoulder last January and when the SEC Network’s Chris Doering reported Lagway underwent offseason hernia surgery, his camp wouldn’t confirm or deny it. Lagway didn’t throw in spring drills, then was limited in fall camp with a calf issue.
Former Florida coach Billy Napier gambled on a less than 100 percent Lagway still carrying UF to wins. It cost Napier his job. When Lagway missed downfield throws he hit the year before during UF’s 18-16 loss to USF, it was a tell-tale sign he wasn’t right. Then came Lagway’s five interception disaster at LSU.
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Why Florida football QB DJ Lagway is entering the portal
Even though the 6-foot-3, 247-pound Lagway regrouped somewhat late in the season, playing with more confidence and healthier under interim coach Billy Gonzales, questions remained about whether he would return in 2026. Lagway said he wanted to stay after piloting UF to a 40-21 win over rival Florida State, a game in which running back Jadan Baugh (266 yards rushing, 2 TDs) was the offensive star.
But it didn’t take Inspector Clouseau (or even Inspector Gadget, for that matter) to realize that new Florida coach Jon Sumrall and new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner were keen on Lagway leading their offense. When Sumrall was asked about player retention in his introductory press conference on Dec. 1, he didn’t mention Lagway by name but mentioned Baugh by uniform number saying he’d be willing to hand it to “Number 13” 10 more times.
Faulkner’s track record is working with quarterbacks who are true dual threats willing to put their bodies on the line. Haynes King rushed for 15 TDs under Faulkner at Georgia Tech this season. Lagway has one career TD run in two seasons.
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It was, at best, a mutual parting, one more likely brought on by the frosty reception Lagway received from new brass. Florida will search for a new quarterback in the transfer portal, with Georgia Tech’s Aaron Philo and Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff as possible candidates.
Why retaining RB Jadan Baugh becomes top priority for Florida football
The 6-1, 231-pound Baugh rushed for 1,170 yards and 8 TDs in 2025, ranking third among SEC running backs. He proved durable enough to withstand the SEC grind, starting all 12 games while logging 220 carries, and was as adept catching balls out of the backfield (33 catches, 210 yards, 2 TDs).
Paired with a true dual threat quarterback, Baugh could do even more damage for UF as a junior in 2026, if he stays.
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There is fear that Baugh could follow his running backs coach of two seasons — Jabbar Juluke — to Texas after Juluke was hired by the Longhorns last week. This sets up as a classic oil money versus citrus money matchup. Florida will clear some revenue share space with Lagway’s departure, and new general manager Dave Caldwell will need to get creative. So will Florida Victorious, UF’s Name, Image and Likeness arm.
The alternative is Florida facing Baugh in a Texas uniform in Austin on Oct 17, which would cause sleepless nights for any defensive coach, even one as accomplished at Sumrall.
Florida entering the 2026 season without both Lagway and Baugh raises more questions than answers, even with a proven offensive coordinator like Faulkner in charge. Baugh has earned a raise and a prominent role in UF’s offense. The Gators need to match any Texas offer and run the Baugh back again in 2026.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Why retaining RB Jadan Baugh is a must for new Florida football coaching staff
