Report: Graham Mertz expected to start at QB for Florida against Texas A&M

Despite the dazzling performance from true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway on Saturday against FCS Samford, Florida head coach Billy Napier will go back to his veteran for Week 3. Graham Mertz is expected to be the team’s starting quarterback for the Gators’ Week 3 matchup against Texas A&M, although Lagway will likely also see time, according to a report from Matt Zenitz.

Lagway completed 72% of his passes for 456 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-7 win at home this weekend for Florida. Giving Florida fans a glimpse of what the future could look like in Gainesville as he filled in for Mertz after suffering from a concussion in Week 1 in the third quarter against Miami.

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But Lagway’s stellar performance was not enough to convince Napier to give the 19-year-old, former five-star prospect the keys of the offense just yet. Turning things back over to Mertz after he entered the season as Florida’s starter and unquestioned leader. With Mertz playing in 45 games in his college career with 43 starts between his time with the Gators and Wisconsin, throwing for a career-high 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for Florida.

But even though Mertz is retaking the reigns of the offense, Napier was still thoroughly impressed with what he saw from Lagway over the weekend. Revealing that Lagway could still potentially have a role within Florida’s offense on a weekly basis moving forward this season.

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“I just think it proves what we thought in the beginning,” Napier said of Lagway following Saturday’s game. “This guy was a Gatorade National Player of the Year. He’s one of the best players in the entire country, and he had the opportunity to play the entire game today, and he is who we thought he was.”

“We’re going to stay the course, and much like we described in the beginning, we’ll have a plan for DJ every week going forward.”

It will be fascinating to see how Napier continues to balance and manage Florida’s quarterback position moving forward this season. In the midst of his third season with the program following two straight 3-5 finishes in conference play and a schedule that’s one of the most challenging in college football season. As Mertz will return under center for the Gators this Saturday as Florida hosts Texas A&M this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in a game airing on ABC.