Here We Go…Gators Announce Transfer Portal Plans

[DRU2012]

Word coming out today:
DJ is entering the transfer portal.
A few others announcing THEIR similar plan as well—but the rest mostly pretty minor, relatively “replaceable” at their positions , maybe even with upgrades…NOTHING in the way of drama and disappointment the news about DJ Lagway’s exit plans bring.
This comes on the heels of both new Coach and OC sitting down with him in the preceding 24 hours. Don’t know what was said, but no matter what, this was the upshot of those talks.
In a way, no matter what, this makes the new regime’s plans and choices clearer, less complicated.
As for DJ, one can only wonder (albeit in passing) if he can attract similar NIL money eksewhere, based on the LATEST evidence of his current state and future promise. If his decision was based on news that he would now be in real COMPETITION with the best among whomever are here come 2026, does he even CHOOSE to go elsewhere if staying and competing retains his current NIL deal HERE with a shot at true redemption if/WHEN he comes back with a BANG?
And what if it turns out he needs that surgery he, his family, private coaches and advisors have so far diligently AVOIDED? How many wealthy, bigtime programs are gonna bring him in, invest the time, money and patience on an unknown outcome?
For the moment, though, that’s looking like “not our problem anymore”, I’m somewhat sad to say.

 

[Escambia94]

The most notable recent announcements, particularly on this date, include:

• DJ Lagway (Quarterback, Sophomore): The former five-star recruit and starting quarterback announced his decision via social media. Over two seasons, he compiled 4,179 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions, with two years of eligibility remaining.
• Kahnen “KD” Daniels (Running Back, Redshirt Freshman): Reported by multiple sources, including On3, Daniels plans to enter the portal with three years of eligibility left. He appeared in limited action in 2025, rushing for approximately 120 yards and one touchdown.
• Jordan Castell (Safety): A three-year starter, Castell announced his intention to transfer, marking a significant loss in the secondary.
• Amir Jackson (Tight End, Redshirt Freshman): Jackson, who saw primarily special teams duty, plans to enter the portal with three years of eligibility remaining.

Earlier announcements in December or late November include:

• Muizz Tounkara (Wide Receiver, True Freshman)
• Tarvorise Brown (Defensive Lineman, JUCO Transfer)

Additional players may announce intentions in the coming days, as roster changes are common during coaching transitions.

 

[DRU2012]

Now there’re whispers of the possible departure of Baugh…
Though the common thought is that top-ranked RB’s are significantly easier to replace than skilled QBs, there have been enough differences between the actual ongoing performance and relative growth of these two for us to maybe fear the possibility of this potential second loss a great deal more.
I don’t know WHAT to make of the differing versions emerging as to what the crucial sticking point was between how the new Coach and OC approached DJ in their first private meeting, and how that precipitated DJ’s turning away from his intention to STAY at UF to deciding to enter the portal—something about him not hearing enough about “believing in him and their plans for his development”, but aside from dreading two out of three of the current “early contenders” for his services—what Gator can comfortably envision him stalking the field Saturdays in a Hurricanes uniform, or worse, having to FACE him in a Kiffen-led LSU game?…Better he go back near home in Texas and play for his daddy’s alma mater at Baylor!
He was somewhat of a question mark for us at QB heading into 2026.
Baugh has been a full on, break out PHENOMENON who continues to improve, week by week, season by season—and I would argue that the two, at this point, DESERVE each other, player and team, entering what will likely be his last season as a college player.
With DJ leaving, a large piece of the NIL pie is freed up; no excuses for not making sure at least THAT side of the formula for keeping Baugh here is properly earmarked.
With Jones here and Griffen on the way, holding on to Baugh and Jackson, along with the core of that talented WR room, PLUS both more talent and better coaching raising the bar on the O-line, all appears, even before whatever additions this staff can manage, to potentially leave us in position to effect a quick turnaround on offense regardless…If our highly-touted defensive-minded Coach can, along with his OC and others begin to build the kind of tough defense here that he has been markedly consistent in creating wherever he’s been, perhaps we can all just move on WITHOUT too much in the way of bitterness or resentment at what anyone who leaves goes on to accomplish elsewhere.
I am of course trying to put a positive spin on a dangerous situation that all of fear has us teetering over a precipice even deeper than where we’ve already fallen to under the last several Coaching misfires (especially, let’s face it, this last).

 

[Escambia94]

This is modern college football. All 85 players must be re-recruited each season--with or without a coaching change.

 

[DRU2012]

This is modern college football. All 85 players must be re-recruited each season--with or without a coaching change.

Cannot deny the truth of that summation…BUT:
In Baugh’s case, Given Coach Sumrall’s strong declaration regarding him in his introductory presser, plus the NIL money freed up with DJ’s subsequent announced intentions regarding HIS entering the portal, I assumed the new regime was making every effort to retain Jaden as our #1 RB; I guess it’ll come down to how much he really still wants to be a Gator after all.

 

[Escambia94]

Cannot deny the truth of that summation…BUT:
In Baugh’s case, Given Coach Sumrall’s strong declaration regarding him in his introductory presser, plus the NIL money freed up with DJ’s subsequent announced intentions regarding HIS entering the portal, I assumed the new regime was making every effort to retain Jaden as our #1 RB; I guess it’ll come down to how much he really still wants to be a Gator after all.

This is true of any athlete on any team in the NIL era. Yes, Coach Sumrall said a lot of nice things about Jadan Baugh. Every coach in America knows that Baugh is the #3 running back in the SEC and 14th in the nation according to most statistics. At the same time, he is mid-tier in terms of yards per carry. If he want to come back then he will be a welcome re-addition to the team. If he wants to leave for whatever reason, there are about 20 running backs that are just as good that Florida can grab from another team.

Whether or not a player wants to be a Gator means absolutely nothing these days because with NIL that is now a business decision. Baugh would not be a bad kid for leaving nor would he be a better Gator for staying. The standard is the Gator Standard, and that means on-field performance. Granted, his 1170 yards places him 6th all-time so he gets some leverage.

Rank	Player	Year	Yards	Notes
1	Emmitt Smith	1989	1,599	Program record
2	Emmitt Smith	1987	1,341	Freshman season
3	Fred Taylor	1997	1,292	All-American season
4	Errict Rhett	1993	1,289	Senior season
5	Ciatrick Fason	2004	1,267
6	Jadan Baugh	2025	1,170	Sophomore; first 1,000-yard rusher in 10 years
7	Mike Gillislee	2012	1,152
8	Errict Rhett	1991	1,109	Sophomore season
9	Earnest Graham	2002	1,085
10	Kelvin Taylor	2015	1,035	Last before Baugh

 

[Escambia94]

Let’s take a look at the 10 players who are planning to leave Florida when the transfer portal opens on January 2nd… so far…

DJ Lagway, quarterback: A disappointing sophomore year — coming after an offseason in which Lagway did not practice due to medical decisions made by his camp — was basically the nail in the coffin for his Gators career. He completed 63% of his passes for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 12 games. Lagway was a five-star prospect and the No. 4 overall player in the Class of 2024.

Aidan Mizell, wide receiver: A former four-star prospect and track star whose family graduated from Florida, Mizell totalled just 404 yards receiving and three touchdowns in two full seasons and a redshirt campaign. He was seemingly never healthy, playing 14 combined games the last two seasons.

Jordan Castell, safety: A 2023 Freshman All-SEC selection, Castell started 35 of the 36 games he played over the last three seasons (34 starts in a row). He will have one year of eligibility remaining as a senior next year. This past season, he finished third in tackles (54) and assisted tackles (26), co-leading the Gators with two interceptions.

Grayson Howard, linebacker: A transfer from South Carolina, he started the first nine games of the 2024 season but only took the field three times since due to injury. He totalled 37 tackles (17 solo, two for loss) with a sack, two fumble recovers and a forced fumble in 2024. Howard has one year of eligibility remaining (possibly two years).

Teddy Foster, defensive back: Played in 11 games over the last two seasons.

KD Daniels, running back: Played in 13 games over the last two seasons, totalling 31 touches for 122 yards and a touchdown in 2025.

Tank Hawkins, wide receiver: Played in 11 games over two seasons, totalling 12 receptions, 116 yards receiving and a touchdown.

Amir Jackson, tight end: A four-star, top 100 prospect in the Class of 2024, Jackson played in 15 games over the last two seasons (11 in 2025), totalling three catches for 29 yards.

Josiah Davis, defensive back: Did not play this season after seeing action in four games as a freshman.

 

[DRU2012]

This is true of any athlete on any team in the NIL era. Yes, Coach Sumrall said a lot of nice things about Jadan Baugh. Every coach in America knows that Baugh is the #3 running back in the SEC and 14th in the nation according to most statistics. At the same time, he is mid-tier in terms of yards per carry. If he want to come back then he will be a welcome re-addition to the team. If he wants to leave for whatever reason, there are about 20 running backs that are just as good that Florida can grab from another team.

Whether or not a player wants to be a Gator means absolutely nothing these days because with NIL that is now a business decision. Baugh would not be a bad kid for leaving nor would he be a better Gator for staying. The standard is the Gator Standard, and that means on-field performance. Granted, his 1170 yards places him 6th all-time so he gets some leverage.

Rank	Player	Year	Yards	Notes
1	Emmitt Smith	1989	1,599	Program record
2	Emmitt Smith	1987	1,341	Freshman season
3	Fred Taylor	1997	1,292	All-American season
4	Errict Rhett	1993	1,289	Senior season
5	Ciatrick Fason	2004	1,267
6	Jadan Baugh	2025	1,170	Sophomore; first 1,000-yard rusher in 10 years
7	Mike Gillislee	2012	1,152
8	Errict Rhett	1991	1,109	Sophomore season
9	Earnest Graham	2002	1,085
10	Kelvin Taylor	2015	1,035	Last before Baugh

Point well made…and his place in historical terms statistically does go a long way in further developing both his talent AND this larger concept of “RB replaceability”.
In fact, with NIL, heading forward one can (probably MUST) apply the idea of “Money Ball” in team building—ESPECIALLY in the kind of “incoming new-Coach facing full-rebuild” for what is inescapably shaping up as a “transitional season”…

 

[DRU2012]

Let’s take a look at the 10 players who are planning to leave Florida when the transfer portal opens on January 2nd… so far…

DJ Lagway, quarterback: A disappointing sophomore year — coming after an offseason in which Lagway did not practice due to medical decisions made by his camp — was basically the nail in the coffin for his Gators career. He completed 63% of his passes for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 12 games. Lagway was a five-star prospect and the No. 4 overall player in the Class of 2024.

Aidan Mizell, wide receiver: A former four-star prospect and track star whose family graduated from Florida, Mizell totalled just 404 yards receiving and three touchdowns in two full seasons and a redshirt campaign. He was seemingly never healthy, playing 14 combined games the last two seasons.

Jordan Castell, safety: A 2023 Freshman All-SEC selection, Castell started 35 of the 36 games he played over the last three seasons (34 starts in a row). He will have one year of eligibility remaining as a senior next year. This past season, he finished third in tackles (54) and assisted tackles (26), co-leading the Gators with two interceptions.

Grayson Howard, linebacker: A transfer from South Carolina, he started the first nine games of the 2024 season but only took the field three times since due to injury. He totalled 37 tackles (17 solo, two for loss) with a sack, two fumble recovers and a forced fumble in 2024. Howard has one year of eligibility remaining (possibly two years).

Teddy Foster, defensive back: Played in 11 games over the last two seasons.

KD Daniels, running back: Played in 13 games over the last two seasons, totalling 31 touches for 122 yards and a touchdown in 2025.

Tank Hawkins, wide receiver: Played in 11 games over two seasons, totalling 12 receptions, 116 yards receiving and a touchdown.

Amir Jackson, tight end: A four-star, top 100 prospect in the Class of 2024, Jackson played in 15 games over the last two seasons (11 in 2025), totalling three catches for 29 yards.

Josiah Davis, defensive back: Did not play this season after seeing action in four games as a freshman.

…in turn bringing us to exactly the situation THIS further post goes on to determine:
Though individually NOT a particular disaster in “player-by-player” terms, already (ie.even likely still unfinished) this group’s exit, taken as a whole, represents a pretty thorough undoing of what not so long ago we all characterized collectively as “solid talent”—a group that if anything showed Coach Napier’s recruiting AND “team building” prowess…and yet somehow, with the transfer portal and assorted new realities that gave rise to the current situation in the first place, perhaps not a disaster.
In fact, potentially, if handled properly in practical terms, with both skill AND a bit of good fortune (never dismiss “luck’s” place in any such endeavor), all of it can be viewed as part of an ongoing OPPORTUNITY, where intention as much as circumstance were and are at play.