Florida coach Billy Napier affirmed that Graham Mertz will remain the team's starting quarterback against Texas A&M despite a standout Week 2 performance from star freshman DJ Lagway. Mertz exited Florida's season-opener against Miami with a concussion and missed last week's game against Samford while in the concussion protocol.
"Our intention the entire time has been to play DJ in every game," Napier said at Monday's press conference. "It's a blessing to have two really good quarterbacks, and certainly one with a ton of experience and one without. There's no doubt both of these guys will make us harder to defend. We intend to use both of them."
Lagway showed flashes of his five-star billing in Florida's 45-7 win over Samford with three touchdowns. Lagway set a UF single-game record by a freshman with 456 yards passing and fell just 28 yards short of breaking a single-game program record. Lagway played on Florida's final three series against Miami and finished 3 of 6 for 31 yards and an interception before his breakout performance against Samford.
Here is what Lagway, Mertz can bring to Florida if Napier elects for a two-quarterback system.
Mertz brings experience, but a lower ceiling
The former Wisconsin signal-caller has more than 8,300 career passing yards and 58 touchdowns. Mertz was Florida's incumbent starter heading into the 2024 campaign, and it was always unlikely that Lagway would win the job because of the returning experience Mertz brought to the table.
Mertz is a serviceable starter capable of running Florida's offense. The question is whether his lackluster Week 1 performance can be chalked up to the talent level of Miami's defense or a sign of things to come if he remains QB1. Florida's offense never really got into a rhythm against Miami, playing behind the chains on most of its drives.
Still, Mertz had arguably his best season year with only three interceptions. Florida has arguably the toughest schedule in the country, and in a make-or-break season for Napier, it can makes sense to roll with experience over upside.
Lagway can take Florida's offense to new heights
There is a path for Lagway and Mertz to both get snaps, but two-quarterback systems rarely work effectively at the college level. Prioritizing the development of the top-ranked quarterback from the 2024 recruiting cycle may make sense if the 2024 season gets sideways.
When you turn on the tape from Florida's win over Samford, there is a lot to like from what Lagway showed in his first start. Even though Florida was facing an FCS opponent, Lagway made some throws that opened up Florida's vertical passing game and offered a different dynamic to the offense that the team didn't have with Mertz.
This is the play and throw.
— Neil W. Blackmon (@nwblackmon) September 8, 2024
You don’t need to be a football savant to realize only a handful of players on earth can make this play and throw.
DJ Lagway is one of them . pic.twitter.com/lU60gtSEJX
Lagways's 41-yard touchdown pass to Aidan Mizell was a prime example of why Florida should roll the dice and prioritize Lagway's long-term development. On that throw in particular, Lagway avoids the rush, steps up in the pocket, and delivers a perfectly placed throw on the other side of the field for a touchdown.
That wasn't his only "wow" throw, either. On Florida's second series of the game, Lagway rolled to his right and found a wide-open Elijhah Badger down the sideline for a 77-yard gain.
What goes up, must come down @DerekLagway 🎯
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 7, 2024
💻 https://t.co/hB4MreiMiV https://t.co/N06O078xdf pic.twitter.com/qZxZwLVHkg
Again, his performance should be taken with a gain of salt due to the talent level of the opponent, but it's clear the ball just comes out differently when Lagway is operating the offense. Lagway has the frame to be a bruising runner in the SEC, but his pure arm talent can take Florida's offense to new heights.