Graham Mertz, left, and DJ Lagway at a spring practice soon after Lagway arrived from Willis, Texas. (Photo: Molly Kaiser/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: An Age-Old QB Dynamic for Gators
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Two games, one concussion and a breakout performance have altered the conversation around Florida's quarterback.
If not inside the Heavener Football Training Center, then certainly along the campus sidewalks outside.
The consensus at the start of the season was that the Gators had an ideal situation at the game's most critical position. They had dependable veteran Graham Mertz, coming off the best season of his career and a consummate pro in the locker room, as the starter. And they had highly-touted recruit DJ Lagway, the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year, as a change-of-pace option and talented understudy to Mertz.
Of course, much has happened in the 10 days since the Gators raced onto Florida Field for the season opener against Miami. Most notably, the Gators struggled in all facets – including Mertz, who played arguably his worst game at UF – and got drubbed by the Hurricanes in a performance head coach Billy Napier and several players called "embarrassing."
Mertz's poor outing (11 of 20, 91 yards, 1 INT) was a team effort. The offensive line was shaky, the running game had few splash plays other than a 71-yard touchdown run by Montrell Johnson Jr., and the defense surrendered 529 yards and helped Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward look like the next Cam Newton.
Most of the conversation afterward centered on Napier's future and how the program would (or whether it could) bounce back from the 24-point loss to the Hurricanes in a disappointing performance from top to bottom. As if that wasn't enough, Mertz suffered a concussion on a crushing hit late in the third quarter, and Lagway made his Gators debut in a mop-up role.
With Mertz still in concussion protocol, Lagway started against Samford and rewrote the school record books with a spectacular first career start. Lagway finished 18 of 24 for 456 yards and three touchdowns, eclipsing the 268-yard performance by Chris Leak in 2003 against Kentucky for the most yards in school history by a true freshman making his starting debut.
"He was really sharp," Napier said. "I was impressed with the vertical pass game. I thought he was very accurate down the field."
What does this all mean for when the Gators open Southeastern Conference play on Saturday against Texas A&M?
That was the question Monday when Napier arrived for his press conference in a room full of reporters and athletic director Scott Stricklin.
Napier stayed to the script he has used whenever questions arose about how he planned to use Lagway.
"I think our intention the entire time has been to play DJ in every game,'' Napier said. "He gets a little bit more experienced each week, and certainly for him to have the opportunity to be the starter, prepare with the ones and then go play, and the way he did that, the poise, composure, it shows that he's ready to do what we intended to with him going forward.
"So, it's a blessing to have two really good quarterbacks, and certainly one with a ton of experience and one without, but there is no doubt both these guys will make us harder to defend. We intend to use both of them."
Few parts of the college football machine draw as much interest as uncertainties at quarterback. Any curious mind can type "quarterback battle" into Google search, click the "news" tab, and the stories pour out. The Gators don't necessarily have a battle, but that's what any question about who is going to play is termed.
Hey, look, there is former Gators head coach Urban Meyer talking about the Michigan duo of Davis Warren and Alex Orji.
"I'd play them both," Meyer said. "When I was the head coach of Florida, we had Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. And, I would I would have our coaches rank the players — top 15 in a row. If you're in the top 11, you're playing. Tim Tebow was always in the top 11, so he's going to play. Alex Orji — how do you not play this cat? He's 235 pounds. I think he's as good a runner, athlete as they have. He's got to play. So don't tell me about the scheme. Tell me how you get this kid the ball. He's got to carry the ball for the Wolverines."
Each situation is unique, but to Gators fans, Lagway is what Orji is to Michigan fans: the dual-threat backup who offers a different skill set and unbridled hope for supporters of the next guy.
Based on what Napier said Monday, if Mertz is cleared to play Saturday against the Aggies, it sounds like he will start. It also sounds like Lagway, fresh off an eye-opening starting debut, could have a more expanded role than perceived 10 days ago.
Gators fans certainly have experience in these situations since Tebow's final game.
There was the battle between two young hotshots in Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett. The transfer competition between Luke Del Rio and Austin Appleby. Another contest between up-and-comers Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. And most recently, the Emory Jones-Anthony Richardson dilemma in former head coach Dan Mullen's final season.
"There has been a lot of these dynamics over the years in terms of having a veteran player who is accomplished, had a good career, coming back in a leadership role. Then you have this young talent. We all knew he was very talented from the beginning of his recruitment," Napier said. "So, look, we're going to do what's in the best interest of the team.
"I think both these players can make our team better. I think that's what we intended to do. The great thing is there is a great relationship there, confidence, humility from both guys and a healthy respect from the team and staff for both players."
Who knows how it all plays out? If the Gators are winning, no one will care who is playing. If they are losing, the storyline will stay ablaze.
What is clear is that the dynamic has shifted the past 10 days.
If not inside the Heavener Football Training Center, then certainly along the campus sidewalks outside.
The consensus at the start of the season was that the Gators had an ideal situation at the game's most critical position. They had dependable veteran Graham Mertz, coming off the best season of his career and a consummate pro in the locker room, as the starter. And they had highly-touted recruit DJ Lagway, the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year, as a change-of-pace option and talented understudy to Mertz.
Of course, much has happened in the 10 days since the Gators raced onto Florida Field for the season opener against Miami. Most notably, the Gators struggled in all facets – including Mertz, who played arguably his worst game at UF – and got drubbed by the Hurricanes in a performance head coach Billy Napier and several players called "embarrassing."
Mertz's poor outing (11 of 20, 91 yards, 1 INT) was a team effort. The offensive line was shaky, the running game had few splash plays other than a 71-yard touchdown run by Montrell Johnson Jr., and the defense surrendered 529 yards and helped Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward look like the next Cam Newton.
Most of the conversation afterward centered on Napier's future and how the program would (or whether it could) bounce back from the 24-point loss to the Hurricanes in a disappointing performance from top to bottom. As if that wasn't enough, Mertz suffered a concussion on a crushing hit late in the third quarter, and Lagway made his Gators debut in a mop-up role.
With Mertz still in concussion protocol, Lagway started against Samford and rewrote the school record books with a spectacular first career start. Lagway finished 18 of 24 for 456 yards and three touchdowns, eclipsing the 268-yard performance by Chris Leak in 2003 against Kentucky for the most yards in school history by a true freshman making his starting debut.
"He was really sharp," Napier said. "I was impressed with the vertical pass game. I thought he was very accurate down the field."
What does this all mean for when the Gators open Southeastern Conference play on Saturday against Texas A&M?
That was the question Monday when Napier arrived for his press conference in a room full of reporters and athletic director Scott Stricklin.
Napier stayed to the script he has used whenever questions arose about how he planned to use Lagway.
"I think our intention the entire time has been to play DJ in every game,'' Napier said. "He gets a little bit more experienced each week, and certainly for him to have the opportunity to be the starter, prepare with the ones and then go play, and the way he did that, the poise, composure, it shows that he's ready to do what we intended to with him going forward.
"So, it's a blessing to have two really good quarterbacks, and certainly one with a ton of experience and one without, but there is no doubt both these guys will make us harder to defend. We intend to use both of them."
Few parts of the college football machine draw as much interest as uncertainties at quarterback. Any curious mind can type "quarterback battle" into Google search, click the "news" tab, and the stories pour out. The Gators don't necessarily have a battle, but that's what any question about who is going to play is termed.
Hey, look, there is former Gators head coach Urban Meyer talking about the Michigan duo of Davis Warren and Alex Orji.
"I'd play them both," Meyer said. "When I was the head coach of Florida, we had Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. And, I would I would have our coaches rank the players — top 15 in a row. If you're in the top 11, you're playing. Tim Tebow was always in the top 11, so he's going to play. Alex Orji — how do you not play this cat? He's 235 pounds. I think he's as good a runner, athlete as they have. He's got to play. So don't tell me about the scheme. Tell me how you get this kid the ball. He's got to carry the ball for the Wolverines."
Each situation is unique, but to Gators fans, Lagway is what Orji is to Michigan fans: the dual-threat backup who offers a different skill set and unbridled hope for supporters of the next guy.
Based on what Napier said Monday, if Mertz is cleared to play Saturday against the Aggies, it sounds like he will start. It also sounds like Lagway, fresh off an eye-opening starting debut, could have a more expanded role than perceived 10 days ago.
Gators fans certainly have experience in these situations since Tebow's final game.
There was the battle between two young hotshots in Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett. The transfer competition between Luke Del Rio and Austin Appleby. Another contest between up-and-comers Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. And most recently, the Emory Jones-Anthony Richardson dilemma in former head coach Dan Mullen's final season.
"There has been a lot of these dynamics over the years in terms of having a veteran player who is accomplished, had a good career, coming back in a leadership role. Then you have this young talent. We all knew he was very talented from the beginning of his recruitment," Napier said. "So, look, we're going to do what's in the best interest of the team.
"I think both these players can make our team better. I think that's what we intended to do. The great thing is there is a great relationship there, confidence, humility from both guys and a healthy respect from the team and staff for both players."
Who knows how it all plays out? If the Gators are winning, no one will care who is playing. If they are losing, the storyline will stay ablaze.
What is clear is that the dynamic has shifted the past 10 days.
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