Making case for DJ Lagway to start vs. Texas A&M: 'Gives Billy Napier a chance to save his job'

DJ Lagway has a chance to start for Florida again this weekend when the Gators welcome Texas A&M.

Not only could it give Florida a better chance to win, rather than playing Graham Mertz who is recovering from a concussion, it could save Billy Napier’s job. That’s On3’s Andy Staples’ theory on this Week 3 matchup.

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He discussed it on Monday’s edition of Andy and Ari On3.

“Texas A&M is a three and a half point favorite at Florida,” Staples began. “Ari you and I did a video Sunday night, just begging Billy Napier to start DJ Lagway. We don’t yet know what’s going to happen. I have a sense that maybe it’s going to be DJ Lagway in this game, and I think that gives Florida a better chance. But I don’t know how much of a chance, because, again, he played great against Samford … so he played against Miami, and he did lead them on a touchdown drive. He’s a very good quarterback, like he’s accurate, he can throw the ball downfield with the flick of his wrist, and he can hit people in stride. 

“These are things that haven’t been happening in Florida, even with Anthony Richardson, who was obviously very athletically gifted, had a great arm, went number four in the draft, but Anthony Richardson was not the most accurate quarterback … (Graham Mertz) doesn’t give Billy Napier a chance to save his job, (DJ) does give Billy Napier a chance to save his job.”

Mertz does not provide that same type of security, as co-host Ari Wasserman pointed out as well, really questioning the gain.

“What does Billy Napier gain by putting Graham Mertz out there,” Wasserman said.

“You’re right, nothing,” Staples responded. Wasserman said: “So why would he do it?”

DJ Lagway to start again for Florida against Texas A&M?

Lagway uncorked the football over the weekend, beating Samford 45-7. He was 18 of 25 passing for 456 yards and three touchdowns.

Safe to say, Lagway looked legit. But there’s a vast difference between Samford and Texas A&M’s defense.

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“You throw DJ out there, now there is going to be, obviously, an upgrade in competition (and) Texas A&M’s defensive line is really good,” Staples said. “My question in this game is what (does) Texas A&M’s offense do? Because coming out of the Notre Dame game, and I remember I wrote this in Dear Andy last week, I said, Notre Dame’s defense may make every quarterback look terrible, because the Texas A&M Fans were worried about Conner Weigman, and now I’m not so sure.”

Florida and Texas A&M square off in the Swamp Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.