The Future of Gator Football is...

I'm excited about both Graham Mertz's last season and Future boy, D.J Lagway!
But please bring the exterminator to ward off the injury bug! We've had many issues but I think injuries have affected our team more than anything else during these down years.

 

Injuries hurt so much worse when depth is an issue. If the backup is just waiting for his chance to shine, it’s so much different.

 

Why should he? He's the biggest QB UF has ever had.

 

It’s an attitude more than just size

 

I personally don’t like characterizations of any one player as “the future.” I understand what you mean, but look at the best generational players we’ve had as a program. Look at Tebow, Wuerffel, and Harvin. In the case of Tebow and Harvin, it didn’t take long after they both were gone for the program to regress. That wasn’t the case for Wuerffel because Spurrier was the coach for another half a decade.

The college game is always about coaching and recruiting. Any program that hangs their hat on any one player is not a program that’s going to last long at the top.

That said, Lagway looks like a talent. We should always try and enjoy talent when we have it.

Hopefully Napier is continuing to learn and improve on the job because the guy at the top is always what will make or break us. Administrative support affects the program’s ceiling a lot more than its floor.

 

I think Lagway is the real deal. Him and Tre Wilson could be a special connection. However, the thing that I worry about (at least for the last 3 years or so) is can we keep them without another team offering them more money.

 

I believe there is only one thing that could keep Lagway from being the future here... Napier leaving (which would also imply a below-expectation season this year). If Napier and staff are sent packing, DJ may very well move on and light up the scoreboards somewhere else for the next two years. There's a lot riding on this season.

 

I expect to see Chimere Dike play a complimentary role with Tre this year.

 

Lagway has very impressive physical features and athletic ability but what I think makes him a program defining player is his leadership and attitude. Hope I’m right.
Oh yes, wanne hit it: Lagway’s running, like Tebow, is more about attitude than size.
And TrueGator is spot on when he opined that the only reason Lagway might abandon UF is if Napier leaves.

 

Yes, hoping we see WRs open often.

 

IMHO, it all depends on the game management by Napier. He has a big stud true Fr QB, just like Urban had in 2006 in Tebow. The game management by Urban got us there + the talent.

Think of that early game in the 2006 season at UT. Late in game, we are losing, 4th and 1 or 2 yards and what does Urban do....he pulls Leak and sends Tebow in to run it down the throat of UT for a 1st down. He trusted the guts, fire, power and desire of Tim. That first down was made, next up, the winning TD pass.

Now put today's Napier in that exact same place in 2006. Would he make that same call? Or would he have Leak throw a bubble screen or run a reverse or a TE Utah pass up the middle? Would he have trusted Tebow?

Napier's play calling far too often is weird, odd, and more like Ron Zook or Doug Dickey than Spurs, Urban or even Charlie Pell.

 

In the pre-NIL era: maybe. With NIL: loyalty to a coach or school doesn't always win the day. Hopefully, we won't be worried about this season's end.

 

Hey! That's not optimistic.

(j/k. I'm just yanking your chain.)

 

I agree BUT, IMO Lagway is a pre NIL kinda guy. And yes, if so he is something of an anomaly.