Billy Napier stays dedicated to QB Graham Mertz, however ought to he flip to Florida’s phenom DJ Lagway for spark?

Florida coach Billy Napier affirmed that Graham Mertz will stay the crew’s beginning quarterback towards Texas A&M regardless of a standout Week 2 efficiency from star freshman DJ Lagway. Mertz exited Florida’s season-opener towards Miami with a concussion and missed final week’s recreation towards Samford whereas within the concussion protocol.

“Our intention the complete time has been to play DJ in each recreation,” Napier stated at Monday’s press convention. “It is a blessing to have two actually good quarterbacks, and definitely one with a ton of expertise and one with out. There is no doubt each of those guys will make us more durable to defend. We intend to make use of each of them.”

Lagway confirmed flashes of his five-star billing in Florida’s 45-7 win over Samford with three touchdowns. Lagway set a UF single-game file by a freshman with 456 yards passing and fell simply 28 yards wanting breaking a single-game program file. Lagway performed on Florida’s last three sequence towards Miami and completed 3 of 6 for 31 yards and an interception earlier than his breakout efficiency towards Samford.

Here’s what Lagway, Mertz can carry to Florida if Napier elects for a two-quarterback system.

Mertz brings expertise, however a decrease ceiling

The previous Wisconsin signal-caller has greater than 8,300 profession passing yards and 58 touchdowns. Mertz was Florida’s incumbent starter heading into the 2024 marketing campaign, and it was all the time unlikely that Lagway would win the job due to the returning expertise Mertz dropped at the desk.

Mertz is a serviceable starter able to operating Florida’s offense. The query is whether or not his lackluster Week 1 efficiency will be chalked as much as the expertise degree of Miami’s protection or an indication of issues to return if he stays QB1. Florida’s offense by no means actually bought right into a rhythm towards Miami, enjoying behind the chains on most of its drives.

Nonetheless, Mertz had arguably his greatest season yr with solely three interceptions. Florida has arguably the hardest schedule within the nation, and in a make-or-break season for Napier, it might is smart to roll with expertise over upside.

Lagway can take Florida’s offense to new heights

There’s a path for Lagway and Mertz to each get snaps, however two-quarterback techniques hardly ever work successfully on the faculty degree. Prioritizing the event of the top-ranked quarterback from the 2024 recruiting cycle could make sense if the 2024 season will get sideways. 

If you activate the tape from Florida’s win over Samford, there’s a lot to love from what Lagway confirmed in his first begin. Despite the fact that Florida was dealing with an FCS opponent, Lagway made some throws that opened up Florida’s vertical passing recreation and provided a unique dynamic to the offense that the crew did not have with Mertz. 

Lagways’s 41-yard landing go to Aidan Mizell was a chief instance of why Florida ought to roll the cube and prioritize Lagway’s long-term improvement. On that throw specifically, Lagway avoids the push, steps up within the pocket, and delivers a wonderfully positioned throw on the opposite facet of the sphere for a landing.

That wasn’t his solely “wow” throw, both. On Florida’s second sequence of the sport, Lagway rolled to his proper and located a wide-open Elijhah Badger down the sideline for a 77-yard acquire. 

Once more, his efficiency needs to be taken with a acquire of salt because of the expertise degree of the opponent, however it’s clear the ball simply comes out otherwise when Lagway is working the offense. Lagway has the body to be a bruising runner within the SEC, however his pure arm expertise can take Florida’s offense to new heights.