FB's DJ Lagway Named to Maxwell Award Watch List
8/3/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Junior signal caller one of 15 Big 12 players nominated for nation’s most outstanding player award
PHILADELPHIA – Baylor football junior quarterback DJ Lagway has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, as announced Monday by the Maxwell Football Club.
Lagway is one of 81 candidates named to the award's preseason watch list, which is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. He is one of 15 players from the Big 12 named to the list, and one of nine quarterbacks from the league included.
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.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 24.
The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10. The formal presentation of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Ga.
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
Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
DJ Lagway, QB
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
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 Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Lagway is one of 81 candidates named to the award's preseason watch list, which is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. He is one of 15 players from the Big 12 named to the list, and one of nine quarterbacks from the league included.
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.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 24.
The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10. The formal presentation of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Ga.
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
Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
DJ Lagway, QB
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
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 Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
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