That’s great news I think! He’ll be the starter and we can ease lag way in slowly as he learns the system. Probably why Max Brown decided to enter the transfer portal. He knew he was going to be third string and not see the field. Hopefully better things next year.
I’m Thats a mystery. Only item I can find on Miller is that he returned to practice in September of this year, he saw no playing time this season but he was an academic All American. Naysayers bring up his poor performance in last years bowl game but, he had no chance to look good in that game.
Thank you Graham, Gator Nation thanks you too. We saw the need for you to return and obviously you did too. Heal, rest, recover, keep on keeping’ on, and give your football wisdom and knowledge to Lagway.,
Information like this usually goes out to recruits prior to the announcement to make everyone is comfortable.
All true, particularly when you factor in the type of offense we run. It's not set up to have a Jayden Daniels kind of guy back there to get 600 yds a game.
Why this is a surprise or cause for excitement is weird to me. It's great he is back but where was he going? All the NFL draft profiles have him listed as an undrafted free agent. Was there a chance he would transfer? He has no eligibility to transfer. He used his grad transfer to come to Florida and there is no HC change so he is not eligible to transfer. So the smart plan was always to play out his final yr and collect the nil money.
I am glad Mertz is returning, but on the internet I keep seeing Gator fans screaming for Lagway to start as a freshman. At the same time these people talk about Max Brown needing to leave. All I have to say is that championship caliber teams tend to have four 4* or 5* QBs on scholarship. In 2023 the Gators had one. In 2024 they will have two. The last time Florida had three blue chip QBs in the same locker room was 2008 (Tebow, Newton, and Brantley). I am excited to have Mertz back not only for that 2024 schedule, but also to lay a foundation for what is to come in 2025 and beyond.
It's a rarity that a freshman blows up his first yr. Mertz was number 3 in the country coming out and redshirted, Manning as well. Lagway will need a yr to transition into P5 SEC football.
Almost all quarterbacks need that year of redshirt to prepare and learn the system and develop. Once in a while, a guy has to start as a freshman because there’s nobody else there to do so. Sometimes that turns out well and sometimes not so much. If Merts were to get hurt early next year, it’s looking like Lagway would have no choice but to start. If we had a very experienced third string quarterback, it’s very possible that that guy might move into the starting role and lag. We still only have his package. There is not that guy on our roster at the moment.
I agree with all of your post. I am just adding my 2 cents worth. Tim Tebow came to the Florida Gators in a similar scenario that Lagway is coming. There were some differences: The biggest difference was that Gators were not in a rebuild. Also, the were competing for a Natty. Tim did get his shares of snaps in his first season. Please note that he had a great O-line, and a good defense that put the team in a winning position. Tim made good use of his opportunities by scoring (via a rush) and passing. Those snaps put him in a good position for his Sophomore season.
This fabulous news. One thing about Lagway that is refreshing, he wants to develop under some leadership to be a leader himself someday. Mertz is around one more year. Will DJ redshirt? Who knows? I kind of hope he is used along with Mertz. We don't (Napier doesn't) have the luxury to NOT use him, IMHO. I remember all of the speculation back when Tebow and the Auburn (laptop tosser) were here together. Oh, there'll be a package, they'll both be on the field together, never happened-ever! DJ wants to be the best, wants to be taught. The possibilities are endless with them both on the field together. Pitchout's, double passes, RPO's etc etc. With Mertz and Lagway the QB room is looking quite spectacular. Having some road-graders to help out would be fabulous. Couple more receivers... The future looks good... Everybody go deep on 'hut'... Go Gators.
