College Football HQ

Texas A&M a Threat to Poach Projected $2 Million Star QB After Latest Firing: Insiders

With the college football coaching carousel heating up, rumors are swirling about how the changes could impact the transfer portal. Find out why there could be an SEC battle brewing for one star quarterback.
Jonathan Adams|
Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko reacts during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko reacts during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

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Florida GatorsTexas A&M Aggies

The latest college football firing could have an impact on the transfer portal landscape. As Florida cuts ties with Billy Napier, the Gators are in danger of losing several star players, including quarterback DJ Lagway.

The former highly touted recruit's season has not gone quite as planned. Lagway has battled injuries and his play this season has been inconsistent as the Gators QB1. With Napier out in Gainesville, ESPN's Eli Lederman, Max Olson and Adam Rittenberg floated Texas A&M as a potential landing spot for Lagway.

"Can the next head coach keep Lagway in Gainesville?" ESPN detailed on Sunday. "The sophomore QB has been extremely loyal to Napier and invested in building up this program with him. The retention of Lagway will likely be a major priority for whomever takes this job. ... He will still likely have an opportunity to be one of the highest-paid QBs in the country next year, regardless of how his sophomore season plays out.

"If the Texas native wants to play closer to home, he'll have options. Texas A&M tried hard to flip Lagway's recruitment at the last minute after Mike Elko took over in December 2023. His father, Derek Lagway, played at Baylor in the late 1990s."

Florida QB DJ Lagway's NIL value is projected at $2 million

Two important notes on Lagway's future, starting with the obvious fact that the quarterback is not a guarantee to transfer just because Napier has been fired. Secondly, the Aggies already have a star quarterback in Marcel Reed who has performed better than Lagway throughout 2025. All this makes College Station as a landing spot for Lagway murky at best.

If Lagway does enter the college football transfer portal, the quarterback could still command a sizable deal despite his recent struggles. On3 projects that Lagway's NIL value is $2 million.

Prior to Napier's firing, Lagway threw for 1,513 yards, 9 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 65.3% of his passes in his first seven appearances of 2025. As Florida searches for a new head coach, there will be plenty of teams interested in enticing Lagway to enter the transfer portal.

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Jonathan Adams
JONATHAN ADAMS

Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports writer who has written for notable outlets and interviewed some of the top athletes for more than 10 years. Since 2015, his sports coverage has been read by tens of millions and has been prominently featured on Heavy, NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and more. Jonathan is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a voter for the Maxwell Award and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. He has interviewed many of the biggest stars in sports — Bryce Harper, Jayden Daniels, Justin Jefferson, Bijan Robinson and Micah Parsons to name a few — and has traveled the country to cover the College Football Playoff, NFL draft, Masters, March Madness, Senior Bowl, McDonald’s All-American Game and beyond. Jonathan Adams studied at the University of Central Florida and The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. He holds master degrees in sport business management, business administration and theology & culture.

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