The transfer portal window is approaching fast, and with it, the most important 15 days of the offseason for Louisville football. The Cardinals are looking to update their roster in a number of ways, but the quarterback position will have to be the focus.
Multiple quarterbacks look intriguing and could help Louisville win now, but one name definitely shines above the rest. Florida quarterback D.J. Lagway has decided to leave the Gators and enter the transfer portal. Lagway is currently the second-highest rated quarterback in the portal, according to 247Sports, and could be the piece Louisville needs to compete next year, truly.
Acquiring Lagway won’t be easy, as the former five-star will be a player that every major team will want to have, but there’s always a chance he could make Louisville his new home. Lagway could come in and be a key player from day one, so let’s take a look at three reasons why he would be a perfect fit for the Cardinals.
3. Heavy on the pass
This year at Florida, D.J. Lagway threw the ball 337 times. This is close to the number the Cardinals' current quarterback has thrown, with Miller Moss at 356. Louisville is mostly a passing offense and might shift toward that style of play even more, depending on the running back talent they acquire in the portal.
To say the least, Lagway can sling it. As just a sophomore, he was making electric plays against the best athletes in the nation in the SEC. For example, he threw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns in a thriller win over Texas this year. He’s going to make mistakes, like every other quarterback, but his talent is worth the risk.
If Louisville can obtain Lagway, its pass-heavy offense would be set for the foreseeable future. Not to mention how much the offense would improve over the next two years of his eligibility.
2. Unlimited potential
Louisville needs a game-changer. If he were to choose the Cardinals as his next team, that answer would be Lagway. Out of all the legends Louisville has had at quarterback, none were as highly ranked as the Gator quarterback coming out of high school.
Now, Lagway is nowhere near the likes of Lamar Jackson or Brian Brohm yet, but he could be. Lagway was the top quarterback in the nation and the top player in Texas in his recruiting class. He has a big 6-foot-2 frame, is athletic, and also has incredible arm talent.
He showed promise in his first two years with the Gators, but he has more potential to be unlocked. With Jeff Brohm mentoring him, Lagway could truly unlock his potential and join the ranks of great Louisville quarterbacks. Lagway would fit the Cardinal system because Louisville and its staff could bring out the best in him and help him become the player he can be.
1. Big names bring in big names
The Louisville Cardinals might look completely different after the 15-day window closes, and they’ll have to learn to accept that one way or another. One way they could be satisfied with their team off the bat is by letting recruits do the work for them.
Lagway is not a no-name quarterback, and I’d be willing to bet a lot of the players in the portal would love to team up with him. That said, Lagway could jump-start the Cardinals' transfer portal process if he were to sign with them. When you advertise to players, they might see D.J. Lagway throwing them the ball, and players like Nick Marsh start to take your team more seriously.
If Lagway were to sign with Louisville, the Cardinals' program would change overnight. They’d be trending in a positive direction, and every player in reach would want to join the wave. Lagway wouldn’t just fit in at Louisville; he would make others fit in as well.