Baylor coach Dave Aranda reveals how a "straight jacket" environment and deep-seated isolation fueled the star quarterback DJ Lagway's emotional departure from the Florida Gators to find his freedom.
New Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall is inheriting a challenge with the quarterback position as Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo are set to battle for the starting job in training camp this summer.
DJ Lagway decided to transfer from Gainesville after two long seasons under former head coach Billy Napier. Lagway decided to return to his home state and play for the Baylor Bears and head coach Dave Aranda.
During an interview with On3, Aranda suggested the transition has smooth for Lagway. The young quarterback is making friends with his new teammates.
“He’s smiling more, he’s open more, he’s engaging with teammates more," Aranda said. "He’s taken the O-line out to eat, he’s taken the receivers off to (practice) seven-on-seven, or they’re at his house watching films.
"He’s just totally engaged, totally driven. So guys are connected to him and want to play for him, they don’t want to let him down.”
Aranda suggested that Lagway couldn't be himself at Florida, saying he was in a "straight jacket" during his first two seasons in college football.
"I could see on the recruiting trip, … I could see someone that just wanted to be free,” Aranda said. “Like (Lagway was in) straight jacket, maybe, someone that is just all boxed in and boxed up and just wanted to be free, express himself, play free.
"And I think he’s felt that (freedom) … at Baylor.”
During an interview with Matt Hayes of USA Today in the spring, Lagway said he was put on a "pedestal" at Florida and had a hard time dealing with depression as he felt isolated from his teammates.
“I was in a bubble down there, I didn’t feel like a normal person,” Lagway said. “I didn’t even know what the campus looked like. I was really closed off. I didn’t really hang out with my teammates.
"Yeah, I was depressed. I just stayed in my own lane. Stayed out of the way.”
Baylor will offer Lagway a chance to fly under the radar in resurrect his college career. He's a talented quarterback, but he needed a fresh start after two dismal seasons with the Gators.
