By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Florida Gators had a two-quarterback system. Now, head coach Billy Napier will lean heavily on his one quarterback.
On Saturday night, the Gators saw senior starting quarterback Graham Mertz suffer a torn ACL injury against the Tennessee Volunteers. Mertz will miss the rest of the season after the injury suffered at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Napier will go with freshman D.J. Lagway the rest of the way, barring a significant injury to him. The 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year brought the Gators back late in the game to force overtime.
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However, a missed field goal by the Gators in the first attempt, led to the Volunteers scoring a game-winning touchdown in overtime in their attempt.
Napier said Mertz — the former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback — will have surgery next week. He also said that Yale transfer Aidan Warner will now serve as Lagway’s backup.
“I will remain a part of the program and do whatever I can in meeting rooms and from the sideline to help my teammates win,” Mertz said in a social media post. “I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support during this time.”
As a starter, Mertz guided the Gators to a 7-9 record in two seasons. He transferred to Florida before the 2023 season.
“It’s only right for me to say how much I appreciate and (I) am thankful for Graham in terms of all he has brought to the table, to our team,” Napier said on Monday during his weekly press conference. “Not only his production on the field, but also just his impact on the team as a whole — his leadership, the work ethic, the example, the self-discipline.”
Mertz went 72 of 94 for 791 yards through five games with the Gators. He also had six touchdown passes and two interceptions.
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He went 11 of 15 for 125 yards in the 23-17 overtime loss to the Volunteers. He also had one touchdown pass.
Lagway has gone 47 of 72 for 765 yards. He has had five touchdown passes and four interceptions.
The best game of his freshman year was in his first start when he went 18 of 25 for 456 yards in a 45-7 win over the Samford Bulldogs. He also had three touchdown passes.
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