Graham Mertz #15 of the Florida Gators
The Florida Gators’ season took a major hit following the news that quarterback Graham Mertz will miss the remainder of the year due to a torn ACL in his left knee. Head coach Billy Napier confirmed the injury and revealed that Mertz, a sixth-year senior from Overland, Kansas, will undergo surgery, bringing his college career to a premature end.
Mertz sustained the injury during Florida’s 23-17 overtime loss to Tennessee. After throwing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Arlis Boardingham in the third quarter, Mertz awkwardly caught his cleat in the turf. He was forced to leave the game with Florida holding a 10-0 lead, limping to the locker room and later returning to the sideline in street clothes with a knee brace.
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The loss of Mertz is a significant blow for the Gators. Over the last two seasons, he’s been a stabilizing presence in the Florida offense after transferring from Wisconsin, where he was a three-year starter. Mertz’s time at Florida was productive, as he completed 73.7% of his passes for 3,694 yards, with 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Unfortunately, his career in Gainesville will be remembered for being cut short by injuries — Mertz also broke his collarbone during the 2023 season.
The Gators will now turn to highly-touted freshman DJ Lagway, who was thrust into action following Mertz’s injury. Despite the tough loss at Tennessee, Lagway showed promise, throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike with 29 seconds left to force overtime. Napier’s decision to kick the extra point rather than go for two in regulation ultimately cost the Gators, but Lagway’s late-game composure offers hope for Florida’s future.
Lagway, a Texas native, will take over as the starter, beginning with Florida’s homecoming game against Kentucky. Through six games, Lagway has completed 65.3% of his passes for 765 yards, with five touchdowns and four interceptions. His first start will come against a tough Kentucky defense, ranked third in the SEC in total yards allowed. The Wildcats have allowed just 50 points combined over their last three conference games, presenting a tough challenge for the freshman.
Napier and the Gators are sitting at 3-3 (1-2 SEC), and with Mertz out, the pressure is now on Lagway to lead the team through a crucial stretch of their schedule. Despite the setback, Florida still has a shot at salvaging their season with a talented roster, but Lagway’s development will be key in determining just how far they can go.
