Danny Kanell believes Billy Napier’s future at Florida could be directly tied to what happens this season at the quarterback position.

The SiriusXM college football analyst knows a thing or 2 about playing quarterback at a big state school in Florida, having quarterbacked Florida State in the mid-1990s. He also knows the pressure that comes along with it, and how it can be tied to a coach’s future.

So far in 2024, it’s been 2 games, 2 quarterbacks for the 1-1 Gators. In UF’s blowout loss to Miami at The Swamp in Week 1, it was senior Graham Mertz, and it didn’t go well at all. Mertz was just 11-of-20 passing for 91 yards, with 0 touchdowns and 1 interception, before giving way to freshman DJ Lagway, who threw for just 31 yards with an interception.

Napier went with Lagway in Week 2 against Samford with Mertz sidelined by a concussion, and the results were very good, even if the opponent wasn’t. The highly touted Lagway threw for 456 yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions in his 1st collegiate start as the Gators brushed aside their FCS opponent 45-7.

“This decision probably determines Billy Napier’s fate as the head coach at Florida,” said Kanell.

So what now, as the Gators head into a Week 3 showdown with Texas A&M back at The Swamp? Napier said this week that he plans to use Mertz and Lagway in a tandem system.

“He looked pretty special,” said Kanell. “It’s pretty clear (Lagway) has more upside than Graham Mertz.”

Kanell talked about the fortunate situation Napier fell into because of Mertz’s injury, saying that if it wasn’t for that, then Napier probably never would’ve gone with Lagway against Samford.

Now everything might’ve changed, even if Napier isn’t committing to that full change just yet.

“All of a sudden, based on one game against Samford, you’re like, ‘Man, maybe this could be the bright spot of the season,'” said Kanell.