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DJ Lagway will make his first-career start on Saturday against Samford.
That news was confirmed by Florida coach Billy Napier on Wednesday evening as starter Graham Mertz will miss the game due to a concussion. Lagway relieved Mertz in the second half of Florida’s Week 1 loss to Miami.
Lagway is widely viewed as the future of the quarterback position at Florida. He was a 5-star prospect coming out of high school and was one of the most highly-recruited players in the country for the 2024 high school cycle.
Timing-wise, Lagway earning his first-ever start against FCS Samford seems to be ideal for the Gators. This is the only game this season that Florida will play against a team that’s not in a power conference.
Depending on how Lagway performs, it’s possible he overtakes Mertz for the starting job at some point this season. Mertz struggled mightily in Florida’s season-opener against the Hurricanes at home. Projection models like ESPN’s Football Power Index are currently very low on Florida — FPI’s latest update suggests the Gators are expected to go roughly 3-9 this season.
While there’s a bit of a reprieve in Florida’s schedule this week, it’s very brief. The Gators will begin SEC play in Week 3 against Texas A&M.
Fans are understandably excited to see Lagway’s first start for the Gators — especially considering how Week 1 went in The Swamp. Here’s the best of the reaction to this news from the Florida faithful:
I know it’s Samford. But if lagway truly balls out, Billy has to keep him in the following week.
— Blah Blah Blah (@Gator2526) September 4, 2024
DJ Lagway starting this week for the Gators
But the real question
Will the gators ever go back to Mertz?
— ✨College Football ✨ (@CFBspace) September 4, 2024
As expected, the Gators will turn to freshman DJ Lagway this weekend against Samford.
Could he be the spark that saves the Billy Napier tenure in Gainesville? https://t.co/SeusDVvT2Z
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) September 4, 2024
DJ Lagway officially starting this weekend pic.twitter.com/GH323S3CHJ
— Wheelz (@WheelzFL) September 4, 2024
Billy Napier’s only chance at keeping his job is starting DJ Lagway and him being the superstar everyone thinks he is. https://t.co/JWeSQZXmKu
— Football Fanatics (@FFB_Fanatics) September 4, 2024
Hopefully Florida can protect DJ Lagway. I think Nico/DJ could be a solid rivalry for the next 2 years.
— Skeeter Smith (@superskeet40) September 4, 2024
Lagway might just save Billy’s job https://t.co/mnHjQZEIvF
— General Admission (@dome_homers) September 4, 2024
https://twitter.com/UFBarstool/status/1831467418700673498
Live look at DJ Lagway on Saturday pic.twitter.com/pgQmXXIq4n
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) September 4, 2024
Not going to lie I’m excited to watch Lagway ball
— Blah Blah Blah (@Gator2526) September 4, 2024
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
