5 - Reach - DJ Lagway
Most would assume that the performance DJ Lagway put forth this season and the Cardinals' need for a quarterback mean the Cardinals should stay away from the sophomore, soon-to-be transfer quarterback. And, there would be some merit to that feeling. Lagway was less than stellar in his appearance this season, posting 2,264 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and an eyebrow raising 14 interceptions.
However, when looking at the former 5-star quarterback's entire body of work at Florida, one cannot overlook the absolute 4-game tear Lagway had to finish the 2024 season with. This streak included wins over 2 top-25 opponents in LSU and Ole Miss, a massive blowout win against rival Florida St., and a win in their bowl game against a tough Tulane team. Through that stretch, Lagway threw for 844 passing yards and 6 passing touchdowns. The interceptions do need to be addressed, but Lagway could be molded into an absolute weapon within Jeff Brohm’s offense.
4 - Realistic - Colton Joseph
Colton Joseph is by no means a national, flashy name in the college football world. However, he led Old Dominion to an impressive 10-3 record, culminating in a bowl victory over the South Florida Bulls. He posted a respectable 2,624 passing yards, with 21 passing touchdowns to only 10 interceptions. He was also able to use his legs more effectively, adding 1,007 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns to his resume from last season.
Joseph’s ability to use both his arm and his legs could be a true weapon in Jeff Brohm’s offense as well, a weapon Cards fans have yet to see in his system. Similar to Deuce Knight, the dual-threat ability could provide openings in the offense that have yet to be exploited during Brohm’s tenure. The only question about Joseph is whether his ability and play can transfer to a bigger, tougher competition on a Power 4 conference team. Only time will tell if he gets that chance to see.