The problem with Mertz apparently is Wisconsin? We're his stats a product of coaching and a system? Or was he just (average)? Napier seems to like the kid. Regrettably his spring game, to quote Marine, was........meh.
They played in an old school offense that used the pass on third down and long-ish... not a good offensive scheme to show off your passing skills. That is the worst time to pass... when everyone knows it's a passing down. I liked SOS for his offensive philosophy... Pass... then pass again... then pass some more, then wear them out with a potent running game. By then we're so far ahead that we know the opposing team will be looking to pass and they become one dimensional... easier to stop. I'll be happy just to be unpredictable on offense. Mix/match and confuse the defense is the way to go.
IMO it simply boils down to is it better for him to play another year or two in high school and develop/mature vs come to UF now? I'm not sure there is a right answer. There are those that will say it's better to get on campus and get adapted to the speed of college and get in the weight program with a redshirt. I might argue he could get another couple of years in high school and then take that redshirt while Lagway plays. Is an 18 year old redshirt Simmons as good as a 20 year old redshirt Simmons? But maybe it's better to take the bird in hand right now....no risk of flipping, no worry of baseball drafting him high, etc. Ultimately I guess we should just be glad to get a kid like this regardless of when he comes in.
We may need a QB1, but there’s very little chance of what most are wishing for…which is a graduate transfer that the coaches want and admissions will accept, that can learn the system quickly and be able to beat out Mertz and Miller, and do all this in less than 3 months without mucking up the dynamics of the QB room and morale of the team.
I'm in the camp that thinks the number of birthday candles matters...a lot. So I'd go with door #2 in that scenario. Let a 20-22 year old Austin be Lagway's backup and successor. I don't see any scenario where him coming to campus helps us this year.
I agree with this. I posed the original question because Napier seemed pretty specific and confident in his recent Q&A. I was just wondering if there could be a scenario our there OTHER THAN Simmons. It seems like the consensus on this board is NO.
He’s really a class of 24 kid so the alternative is signing two QBs next year. I like reclassifying him now (bird in hand) and let the cards fall where they may. It’s debatable that his development time is better in HS. And remember, he’s homeschooled so he’s not really focused on missing out on the prom or the homecoming dance or senior pranks.
I would tend to agree with much of that. But if you were building the dream scenario he stays in class of 24 and then redshirts behind Lagway. I agree that is highly unlikely, so probably the second best scenario is go ahead and come in now.
Hypothetically Lagway and Simmons compete for the starting job X wins while Y goes into the portal you still have the better starter in X all good. Hopefully you back that up with a top ‘25 Qb and so on…..
I think that the biggest takeaway from all this is that in an age where the fan base ‘wants’ to know everything, Billy needs to learn to be even more discreet and less informative about what his intents and plans are. Since he came through the door there has been more than one occasion in which he revealed what his intent was and then when it didn’t work out, it left egg on the face of the plan and questions from the fan base. I know he’s trying to ‘throw us a bone’ and answer as many questions as he can, but with the craziness surrounding NIL and the uncertainty of portal players, perhaps it’s best that he be non commital and simply say ‘we’re doing the best we can to build a winner’. And either he will succeed or he won’t. Here’s to hoping that Metz proves to be a winner and this season is better than most are expecting of it.
Simmons is physically able to play. Listed at 6'3 200. By the time he sees the field he will only be bigger. If he is mature enough to be home schooled and take college level classes, he can pick up the playbook. Take him now.
Florida QB commit Austin Simmons enrolls at Moore Haven for junior season According to this article from a month ago. Simmons has transferred to Moore Haven. His father is the OC for the football team. So this discussion may be moot.
One more thing. If Simmons is as good as advertised. His numbers are gaudy and he is as smart as they are saying, take him now because he will be going pro in 2026.
he is home schooled. His football coach at Pahokee was fired so he followed his father who is an assistant at his new school. he transferred schools for sports only. Not to attend classes.
Agree that they would battle it out. I’m hoping we can keep both, but I do get it’s just the current landscape of college football.
