Awesome news! https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-graham-mertz-announces-return-2024
That is great news! Was not sure what to expect out of him pre season, he was one of the bright spots. Go Gators!
Agreed. We need to build for the present and the future. I like Graham and appreciate him but clearly he's not the future. I hope Lagway takes over by game four.
Right and no disrespect to Mertz. We need him next year in more ways than one. He is a good game manager and great leader. Lagway is just next level.
Great news! I didn't have high hopes this season but Mertz certainly exceeded them. Played with a lot of heart and toughness which is what we need!
My thought is this is ideal situation for us. It gives us a darn good starting QB to go into the season and provides a perfect opportunity to bring Lagway along behind an experienced, savvy veteran. I hope CBN has a package for Lagway and uses him as much as possible: hopefully every game. Like revgator suggested in an earlier post Leach and Tebow all over again.
I was hoping that was going to happen since Max is heading to the portal. But still, we need a 3rd QB because I seriously think both Mertz and Lagway won't be healthy late in the season, the 8th or 9th game. We have the most brutal schedule in NCAA history next season. Who decided to schedule the Top 25 for almost every game? Samford is the only easy game. If Ohio St had this schedule, they wouldn't play next year.
For those saying they want Lagway to start next year, I'd take the guy with the lower ceiling if he's disciplined and doesn't make many mistakes. The guy who can generally win you games but probably won't lose you games. I think that's Mertz. Lagway probably has a bright future ahead of him, but throwing him into the fire in year one with Mertz ahead of him is unnecessary high risk/high reward. He has one crappy game he isn't ready for where he throws 3 picks, we lose, and all of a sudden he's lost his confidence, the honeymoon phase is over with these same fans, we've stunned his development, and he's damaged goods. Mertz is both capable and comfortable under center. We shouldn't take that for granted just because we have a shiny new 5 star recruit who tore things up in high school. We know what we have with Mertz and it's good. I think he's earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the starting job next year. It should be his to lose.
I don't know where Mertz would be going. I don't think he has a future in the league. VERY happy we'll have him next year. I am glad that his level of play was such that Gator fans are excited he'll be back. I agree that this sets up very well for mentoring DJ. Ideal, really. A QB with TONS of game experience, situational awareness, etc. I also agree that we need a portal QB. If Mertz goes down for ANY reason, it is unconscionable that we would have not one single QB behind him that's ever taken a D1 snap. Behind DJ right now are two walk ons, right?
This is the best news for BN. Go get him a solid Oline in the portal and this guy will be in the Heisman conversation, because what he did with that line was amazing.
Yes and he LOVES being a Gator and is going to be one of the best leaders and ambassadors we've ever had. We desperately need leadership on the field.
