Some claim DJ will play in the fall and probably will not redshirt. I expect he will play in a few well-designed plays. What would you like to see DJ do this year? https://247sports.com/college/flori...-2024-season-quarterback-dj-lagway-231799846/
I hope he gets a series or 2 in the opener. There is almost no chance he stays at UF for 4 years so the redshirt is a non-issue. He ought to see action in most games and in should be the starter against Samford.
If Mertz has the year that I think he does I expect that Lagway with get a series or two in some games especially early on and then the coaches will reevaluate the needs of both the Gators and Lagway together knowing the he will be starting next year. So... getting Lagway in games early and often for that experience will be paramount. The red-shirt is tricky for several reasons that I will explain later on.
I hope we can see Lagway on the field in every game in a limited role. I know the Leach/Tebow comparison has been used a lot but, I think that was ideal then and very probably would be with Mertz/Lagway. I have very high expectations for Lagway. But throwing him into SEC competition his first year might not be the best course of development for him. I trust CBN on this one.
Yep, I have said that I would not like to red-shirt him, then he can have a special set of plays in games all year long.
I don't want to see Lagway unless it's at the end of the game and we are up by 14 or more. Mertz is QB1 and deserves the respect of the position. This isn't a spread option offensive where you can plug in a QB.
It’s really hard to say. Lagway is a good runner but is he a guy that should play the Allstott role and ram his head into middle linebackers on 3rd and one. There’s only one Tebow and he had something different between his ears. Lagway may be a pass first guy that “can” run which would be in his best interest anyway. I’m not sure a true freshman coming in to throw the ball would be an advantage over having Mertz back there. Very interesting scenario and we all want to see what happens and how he is used. Maybe they just give him a series here and there instead of bringing him in like Timmy for short yardage.
I'm reasonably confident that BN will find a proper balance between the need to win games this year and the optimum development of a potential super star. IMHO, we are in phenomenal shape at QB with a highly efficient, high-character veteran with a year in a system in which he has already exceeded expectations. Plus, IMO, DJ is the most impressive combination of physical talent AND level of overall positional development and feel for the game, fresh out of HS, that I've seen at UF since Tim Tebow. Graham is our starting QB and I'm fine with that because he has earned it, period. But DJ is a wild card for the ages. Although I don't see him as being quite the athlete that AR is, he has demonstrated a level of maturity and mental readiness for P4 FB, to go with his excellent physical tools, that set him above any FR QB I've seen at UF since Tebow. There is a real possibility that if DJ does find himself starting at some point this season, for whatever reason, there may be no looking back. GG!
NO way is a red shirt in the plans for DJ. Coaches are going to give him a package that they will expand as his processing allows.
Warning! I edited this post at 7:57 PM today 05/19. I had total Brain Fart on the highest degree. For some dumb ass reason, I forgot the Brown took the portal route to Charlotte. Thus this post below is BOGUS. I do not expect to see Lagway getting many snaps. Please note: He is the newest/youngest Gator QB on the team. He has at least two QB's in front of him. I am referring to Mertz and Brown. Brown will need to get ample amount of playing time to stay sharp and to grow. He has to be available if Mertz gets injured (God Forbid!). The Gators have a unbelievable schedule this year. I doubt that there will be many blowouts (hopefully with the Gators ahead) to give both Brown and Lagway mop up snaps. For these guys to get a lot of snaps, the Gator Offense need to score points and the Gator D needs to keep the opposing offenses off the field a long time. I am going to be optimistic in that we do not have injuries, and are not getting blown out.
Napier can't wait to unleash his new beast. Start slow and build. Thankfully Mertz will be a big part of the process and will be cool with it.
Publicly he will say all the right things but zero high level competitors are happy with being pulled out of a game when they are performing well and in a rhythm.
If Gators want to attract great WRs then the offense will have to click and DJ will have to impress. Mertz is a real good QB and this is his last year, so I hope he does really well. Lagway needs some time also to show recruits the near future. Coach will have to figure it out.
I think it’s going to be tough for him to get significant playing time because hopefully we will be in a number of dogfights in the coming season.
Sure, because it's so easy for the line and receivers to adjust to a different offense on the fly and back again. Different QB means a different cadence, different speed on the ball in flight and different pocket awareness etc. You are more likely to get a false start, dropped pass or handoff.
Completely different type of offense and different modern rules of the game. You wouldn't be OC for long.
I agree with you that ideally Mertz would play most all the way since we'll be in tight games. However, Lagway may be what gets CBN more years, he may feel he needs Lagway ready for '25.
