Clemson doesn’t need to panic at quarterback — but it does need to plan.
That’s why DJ Lagway’s decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal immediately lands on Clemson’s radar. The former five-star, once the crown jewel of Florida’s 2024 class, is suddenly available at a moment when Clemson’s long-term quarterback picture remains unsettled beyond the current cycle.
Lagway’s portal entry isn’t just another name in December churn. It’s a rare reset opportunity — a high-ceiling quarterback with starting experience, physical tools, and unfinished upside.
The Lagway Resume: Talent Still Matters
Lagway arrived at Florida with enormous expectations. A Five-Star Plus+ prospect, the nation’s No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the 2024 class, he was supposed to be the program-stabilizer.
Instead, his two seasons in Gainesville were uneven.
He started full-time in 2025, completing under 60 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions across 12 games. Turnovers, inconsistency, and a struggling offensive structure ultimately defined his year more than the traits that made him elite out of high school.
Still, the tools haven’t vanished. At 6-foot-3, 247 pounds, Lagway remains a physically imposing quarterback with arm strength, mobility, and experience running a Power Five offense — things Clemson will value as it looks beyond its current depth chart.
Clemson’s Involvement — And Why It Matters Now
Clemson was never central in Lagway’s original recruitment, but the Tigers were well aware of him. As with most elite quarterbacks, Clemson evaluated Lagway early, tracked his development, and ultimately went in other directions during the 2024 cycle.
That context matters now.
This isn’t Clemson trying to “steal” a quarterback mid-recruitment. This is Clemson reassessing a proven, once-elite prospect in a different environment — one where development, fit, and structure may matter more than hype.
Under Garrett Riley, Clemson’s offense values timing, decision-making, and quarterback growth within a defined system. Lagway’s struggles at Florida came in a chaotic setting marked by pressure, turnover, and schematic inconsistency. Clemson can credibly sell stability, coaching continuity, and a clearer developmental path.
Why Clemson Should Make the Call
Clemson’s quarterback room needs layers — not just bodies.
Lagway offers something few portal quarterbacks do: elite pedigree with real starting experience. He doesn’t need to be sold on big stages or pressure. He’s already lived it — and failed through it — which often accelerates growth.
The Tigers don’t need Lagway to be Trevor Lawrence. They need competition, upside, and insurance against future uncertainty. Lagway provides all three.
And just as important: Clemson can afford patience. With no requirement for immediate heroics, Lagway could recalibrate his game in a system built on rhythm, structure, and quarterback confidence.
The Bigger Picture
Not every portal quarterback is worth Clemson’s attention. DJ Lagway is different.
Elite quarterbacks don’t often enter the portal this young, this talented, and this fixable. Clemson’s long-term success hinges on staying proactive at the position — not reactive.
Lagway isn’t a guarantee. But for a program that understands quarterback development better than most, he may be exactly the kind of calculated swing worth taking.