Fans of football in Texas are hoping the Baylor DJ Lagway transfer portal signing could bring big things for the kid from the Lone Star State. The former Florida Gator made it official today, and he will be taking his talents from Gainesville to Waco. The change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered for the former five-star recruit. His two seasons at Florida were less than stellar, and it could be due to the way he was utilized and what was expected from the jump.
The things that Lagway did while playing for Willis High School were astounding. Before the start of his senior season, he attended the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp. He followed that up by throwing for 4,631 yards and 58 touchdowns (the most ever for a 6A Texas high school quarterback), adding 971 yards on the ground and 15 rushing touchdowns. He was the MaxPreps Player of the Year, the Gatorade Player of the Year, USA Today Offensive Player of the Year, and, probably most impressive, Mr Texas Football.
Being the best football player in the state of Texas is like being the best soldier in the Navy Seals, or the best basketball player on the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. It actually may be even harder to achieve than those two. He was a five-star recruit and signed with the Florida Gators. The problem with where he signed was that he was following a top-five NFL Draft pick at quarterback. Lagway’s style of play is nothing like Anthony Richardson’s, despite his similar build, and the shoes he was expected to fill immediately were too big.
Richardson, outside of being an elite athlete, wasn’t much of a quarterback, but he was fun to watch. Lagway is a pure pocket passer, not a dual-threat quarterback. He averaged just two yards per carry in two seasons versus Richardson’s seven. He was used ineffectively, and as a result, completed 62% of his passes for 174.1 yards per game, and 28 touchdowns to 23 interceptions. His lack of production falls on the playcalling rather than his talent.
Lagway played high school ball closer to Texas A&M than Baylor, but with the Bears, he has a chance to play in the pocket and air it out. Dave Aranda is a defensive-minded coach, but his quarterbacks can sling the pigskin. Last year, Sawyer Robertson threw the ball 504 times (third most in the nation), and it led to 31 touchdowns. A player with Lagway’s ability and touch, and a higher completion percentage against significantly tougher secondaries could put up moster numbers in the same offense.
The knock against his situation is that the top four receivers from last season were all seniors. Baylor has several incoming three-star recruits, but they aren’t likely to be big contributors early on. If they could utilize the transfer portal to bring in a player like Cam Coleman from Auburn, that would be quite the coup and significantly help out Lagway. Coleman was in Texas recently, visiting some other colleges.
Maybe there is no chance that he turns it around and becomes the first-round pick he was destined to be, but I’m rooting for the kid. He has way too much talent not to succeed, and the school that produced second overall pick Robert Griffin III has the means to pull it out of him. Maybe he won’t throw for 4,000 yards next year and 35 touchdowns, leading Baylor to the College Football Playoff, but I sure hope he does.
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