DJ Lagway enters game vs. Miami after Graham Mertz leaves with injury

In the third quarter of Saturday’s game against Miami, Graham Mertz left with an injury after throwing an interception. That meant Florida had to turn to DJ Lagway, who made his collegiate debut in the fourth quarter.

Mertz tried to find Eugene “Tre” Wilson III as time ticked away in the third quarter, but Mishael Powell picked off the pass and took it back 67 yards. After the play, Mertz stayed on the ground and immediately went to the locker room.

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At the time of his injury, Mertz had completed 11 of 20 passes for 91 yards as Florida struggled mightily against a new-look Miami team. The Hurricanes held a 38-10 lead when he left, and that remained the case after a missed field goal after the interception.

Lagway – the 2023 National Gatorade Player of the Year – arrived in Gainesville with plenty of hype on the recruiting trail. He was a Five Star Plus+ prospect and the No. 3 overall recruit from the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

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Florida legend Tim Tebow added to the excitement around Lagway ahead of the matchup with Miami. He said while Mertz is the unquestioned leader in the quarterback room, the freshman can open some eyes if he had to come in.

“DJ Lagway, our freshman quarterback. I think he’s extremely special,” Tebow said. “It’s not to take away from Graham, because I think Graham is the leader of the team. But I think DJ can step in and help in a lot of areas and I think give d-coordinators a couple of nightmares.”

As for whether Florida could play both quarterbacks, Billy Napier said there wasn’t a rush to throw Lagway into game action. However, he noted the different looks they both could throw.

“It’s also been exciting for our offensive staff because they’re a little bit different type of players,” Napier said. “So scripting is unique and a lot of fun because you’ve kind of got a guy who’s a veteran player who has a thorough understanding of the system that maybe isn’t the same type of athlete. But, you’ve got this young up and comer who’s very athletic that maybe doesn’t have quite the experience.”