LSU football is potential landing spot for five-star QB transfer

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal when it opens on January 2. That could be of note for Lane Kiffin's LSU football, which will be in the market for a quarterback.

This move doesn’t come as a surprise, given the Gators’ poor performance this season, which led to the hiring of new head coach Jon Sumrall. All of that staff turnover, along with Lagway’s regression in his sophomore year, is assumed to have led to his decision to enter the portal.

LSU fans might cringe at the thought of Lagway in Baton Rouge, recalling his five-interception game against the Tigers' defense, but he could actually be the perfect choice to usher in this next era of LSU football.

There are a few reasons why that’s the case. First, Lagway has traits galore. He’s 6-foot-3 and weighs 247 pounds, with alien-like arm talent that comes from his time as a high school baseball star. He has access to any arm angle he needs and has the strength to drive the ball into windows most quarterbacks wouldn’t even dream of. Below is a perfect example of that strength and off-platform ability, as Lagway rips this throw on third-and-20 to tie Tennessee and send the game to overtime.

a DJ Lagway laser pic.twitter.com/TnMO8Kfp0o

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) March 24, 2025

Then there’s his functional strength. Lagway puts every bit of that 247 pounds to use when needed, able to shrug off any would-be tackler, regardless of size. Here’s a play against Florida State from last season, where Lagway somehow manages to stay upright despite 6-5, 330-pound FSU defensive lineman Darrel Jackson doing everything possible to bring the freshman to the ground.

UNREAL @DerekLagway

📺 ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/aR0gkDZJJM

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 1, 2024

To be clear, signing Lagway would be a gamble for Kiffin and his staff. As a former five-star recruit with the untapped potential noted above, he’ll undoubtedly be an expensive investment for the Tigers — one that many would consider to be too much, given Lagway's performance over the 2025 season.

In 12 games this season, Lagway threw for 2,264 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. According to PFF, his 18 turnover-worthy plays tied for the sixth-most in the country.

However, it’s tempting to imagine what Lagway might develop into with an offseason under Kiffin, who has a long-standing reputation as a quarterback guru. His work with Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss serves as a perfect example. Chambliss spent three seasons at Ferris State University, a D-II program, before transferring to Ole Miss for his senior season.

After three seasons at Ferris State, Chambliss led the Rebels to the College Football Playoff, throwing for 3,013 yards and 18 touchdowns, ranking fourth and seventh in the SEC, respectively.

There are still a few weeks before the portal opens, but according to Nakos, LSU is one of the top schools to watch for Lagway. If LSU manages to land him, it could be the perfect starting block for the Kiffin era in Baton Rouge.

DJ Lagway Player Profile

Recruiting rankings from Rivals.

LSU signed the top-ranked transfer portal class in the country last year. Given LSU's resources, the Tigers are expected to be near the top again this cycle.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football potential home for five-star QB transfer DJ Lagway