FB's DJ Lagway Named to Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
8/25/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Award recognizes the nation’s best college quarterback
FORT WORTH, Texas – Baylor football junior quarterback DJ Lagway has been named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List, as announced last week by the Davey O'Brien Foundation.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. Lagway is one of 30 quarterbacks nationwide named to this year's watch list. Additionally, he is one of six Big 12 QBs on the list.
After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Florida, Lagway comes to Waco having thrown for 4,179 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career so far. He added 237 yards and one touchdown on the ground during his time with the Gators. In 2024, Lagway was named a consensus Freshman All-American after posting 1,915 yards through the air with 12 TDs and helping UF to a 6-1 record in his seven starts, tying a school record for the most wins as a true freshman.
Last year, Lagway earned a spot on the Davey O'Brien Award, Walter Camp, Wuerffel Trophy and Maxwell Award preseason watch lists, then went on to throw for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns. He passed for multiple scores in four games, with three such efforts coming in victories. He also rushed 51 times for 244 yards after starting all 12 games.
Compiled by a subset of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee, this year's watch list was selected based on previous Division I career player performance, as well as expectations heading into the 2026 college football season. The official Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and will contain active quarterbacks from the preseason watch list, players honored as weekly Great 8 recipients throughout the year and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection committee.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10. For the sixth-straight year, fan voting on social media will earn players bonus votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds.
Semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce three finalists one week later on Tuesday, Nov. 24. The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2026 PRESEASON HONORS
Michael Allen, S
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Ryan Davis, JACK
Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (PFN)
Gavin Freeman, WR
Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (PFN)
DJ Lagway, QB
Davey O'Brien Award Watch List
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Tony Livingston, TE
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Dawson Pendergrass, RB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Jacob Redding, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team FLEX (Sports Info Solutions)
Dylan Schaub, LS
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Kaden Sieracki, OT
Preseason All-Big Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devonte Tezino, DL
Shriners 1000 Watch List
LeVar Thornton Jr., CB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devin Turner, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Hosea Wheeler, DL
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Palmer Williams, P
Preseason All-America First Team (Walter Camp Foundation)
Preseason All-America Second Team (CBS Sports)
Preseason All-America Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. Lagway is one of 30 quarterbacks nationwide named to this year's watch list. Additionally, he is one of six Big 12 QBs on the list.
After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Florida, Lagway comes to Waco having thrown for 4,179 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career so far. He added 237 yards and one touchdown on the ground during his time with the Gators. In 2024, Lagway was named a consensus Freshman All-American after posting 1,915 yards through the air with 12 TDs and helping UF to a 6-1 record in his seven starts, tying a school record for the most wins as a true freshman.
Last year, Lagway earned a spot on the Davey O'Brien Award, Walter Camp, Wuerffel Trophy and Maxwell Award preseason watch lists, then went on to throw for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns. He passed for multiple scores in four games, with three such efforts coming in victories. He also rushed 51 times for 244 yards after starting all 12 games.
Compiled by a subset of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee, this year's watch list was selected based on previous Division I career player performance, as well as expectations heading into the 2026 college football season. The official Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and will contain active quarterbacks from the preseason watch list, players honored as weekly Great 8 recipients throughout the year and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection committee.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10. For the sixth-straight year, fan voting on social media will earn players bonus votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds.
Semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce three finalists one week later on Tuesday, Nov. 24. The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2026 PRESEASON HONORS
Michael Allen, S
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Ryan Davis, JACK
Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (PFN)
Gavin Freeman, WR
Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (PFN)
DJ Lagway, QB
Davey O'Brien Award Watch List
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Tony Livingston, TE
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Dawson Pendergrass, RB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Jacob Redding, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team FLEX (Sports Info Solutions)
Dylan Schaub, LS
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Kaden Sieracki, OT
Preseason All-Big Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devonte Tezino, DL
Shriners 1000 Watch List
LeVar Thornton Jr., CB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devin Turner, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Hosea Wheeler, DL
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Palmer Williams, P
Preseason All-America First Team (Walter Camp Foundation)
Preseason All-America Second Team (CBS Sports)
Preseason All-America Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
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Players Mentioned
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