5-star QB DJ Lagway to Take Initial First-Team Reps for Florida Gators
Billy Napier says that incumbent quarterback Graham Mertz is currently going through concussion protocol. GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators may have to start the DJ Lagway era sooner than expected.
Coach Billy Napier announced on Monday that Lagway, a five-star freshman quarterback, will be taking the initial first-team reps in practice while Graham Mertz, the current starter, recovers from a concussion he sustained during Saturday’s blowout loss to No. 19 Miami.
Napier has not yet announced who will start in this weekend’s game against Samford.
“I have a ton of confidence in DJ,” Napier said. “We’ve had him since January, and he’s a completely different person and player than when he first arrived. He has a really solid understanding of our system.”
Lagway was one of the Gators’ most significant recruits since Tim Tebow, remaining committed to Florida in the last recruiting cycle. He was ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect in the 247Sports composite and was named Gatorade’s national player of the year at Willis (Texas) High School.
Last season, Mertz threw 20 touchdown passes and only 3 interceptions in his first year with the Gators. His completion percentage (72.9) ranked third nationally. However, he and the entire offense struggled against Miami, where Mertz completed 11 of 20 passes for 91 yards and an interception before being knocked out of the game.
“I think we are checking all the necessary boxes in the protocol,” Napier said.
After Mertz’s exit, Lagway completed 3 of 6 passes for 31 yards and an interception, while also rushing four times for 20 yards.
Napier had expressed confidence throughout the offseason that Mertz was among the nation’s top quarterbacks, but Mertz’s health may now force Napier to turn to Lagway, Florida’s quarterback of the future, sooner than planned.
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