Florida Football Friday Final: Graham Mertz starts, DJ Lagaway plays in SEC opener against Texas A&M

Photo credit: Hannah White, UAA

Redshirt senior Graham Mertz started the 2024 season as QB1 for the Florida Gators, and he will assume that role on Saturday when the Texas A&M Aggies visit Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Mertz was cleared from concussion protocol earlier in the week, took the vast majority of snaps in first-team practice and is expected to start in the Gators' SEC opener at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Freshman QB DJ Lagway is expected to see spurts of time on the field behind Mertz, although he was credited with that role in Week 1 but didn't see him on the field again until Mertz suffered his concussion midway through the second half.

Lagway has been working with the first team in training this week and head coach Billy Napier is confident he can stick to the game plan on Saturday.

“We are convinced that he can do everything we have in our offensive system,” Napier said on Wednesday, meaning that Lagway should not only be used as a two-attack option. “I don't necessarily see it as a menu where he pigeonholes his tasks.”

On Monday, Napier reiterated that Florida's “intention all along was to play DJ in every game.” After his stellar performance against Samford, the coach concluded that Lagway's “attitude shows that he is ready to do more in the future.”

He added: “We will do what is in the best interest of the team. Both players can make our team better. The great thing is that there is a great relationship. Both guys are confident and humble. The team and the staff have a healthy respect for both players.”

Mertz and Lagway have a really close relationship behind the scenes – so much so that the veteran helped the rookie run walkthroughs before his first career start against Samford. Lagway completed 18 of 25 passes for 456 yards with three touchdowns last Saturday, setting a freshman passing record and coming in 28 yards shy of Tim Tebow's single-game record.

How Lagway will be used against Texas A&M remains to be seen. Napier was understandably tight-lipped in two media appearances this week. Given the familiarity of many Aggies with the Gators, he would certainly not have been comfortable divulging further details of his game plan.

But given the events against Miami, it remains to be seen how much Lagway will see on the field and under what circumstances he will be allowed to make his contribution.

Familiar faces

The turnover in Florida’s defensive staff was drastic this offseason, and nearly every member who left the program – coach And players – ended up at Texas A&M.

Jay Bateman (defensive coordinator, linebackers coach) and Sean Spencer (defensive line) will be on the sidelines for the Aggies after wearing orange and blue a year ago, while linebacker Scooby Williams and cornerback Jaydon Hill – both starters in 2023 – will fill the same roles in their next appearance at the Swamp on Saturday.

Napier did not speak much about the special circumstances this week, but did briefly share a factual background on the incident. “It used to be just coaches, now it's players too. That's part of the dynamic,” he said.

Miscellaneous

• Napier on what is needed to alleviate some of the heat: “We need to have more success on the field. That's where we need to take the next step. Once we do that, like any other culture, it's built until it's established. Then it works, it works. We're in year three now and we're trying to establish certain expectations and certain culture. I think we're closer to that, but ultimately the win helps reinforce that in terms of belief and help.”
• Florida has practiced this week with better fundamentals and improved communication, Napier said Wednesday, after noting Monday that those are both areas it will focus on early in the week. He believes the Gators need to step up on the third attempt because Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has long-term success on that attempt.
• Napier praised TAMU for its balanced offense and the many successes coming out of the backfield. He also praised how well they have been in the transfer portal, signing key players who have already made a difference through two games.
• Napier pointed out that redshirt junior EDGE George Gumbs Jr., who is a captain just three games after transferring to Florida, has had an incredible journey in the swamp. He started as a wide receiver for Northern Illinois, then moved to tight end and special teams, played so well he earned a scholarship, then moved to EDGE, where he made so many quality shots that he entered the transfer portal and eventually signed with the Gators.

  “A guy that stuck it out. When others might have quit, he stuck it out,” Napier said. … “The guy is resilient, he's tough, and his work habits are second to none. … The drive, the effort — he's been doing that since training camp. … He's a good guy, no doubt about it.”