Florida starting quarterback Graham Mertz exited Saturday's Week 1 game against No. 19 Miami with an unspecified upper body injury after taking a hard hit during the third quarter, forcing him to the locker room. That paved the way for freshman DJ Lagway to make his college debut for the remainder of the game, a 41-17 loss to the Hurricanes.
At the time of the injury, Mertz had 91 yards passing with 11 completions on 20 attempts
Lagway played on Florida's final three series and finished 3 of 6 for 31 yards and an interception. However, he also showed flashes in limited action of his dynamic two-way ability, rushing for 20 yards on four attempts.
Lagway, the top-ranked quarterback and the No. 3 overall player in the 2024 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, entered this season as Mertz's backup. At 6-foot-3, 239 pounds, Lagway is a true dual-threat capable of offering a different look for Florida's offense and could see extended action depending on the severity of Mertz's injury.
"So, it's also been exciting for our offensive staff because they're a little bit different type of players," Florida coach Billy Napier said earlier in the week during the weekly SEC coaches teleconference. "So, scripting is unique and a lot of fun because you've kind of got a guy who's a veteran player who has a thorough understanding of the system that maybe isn't the same type of athlete. But, you've got this young up-and-comer who's very athletic that maybe doesn't have quite the experience."
The Willis, Texas, native committed early in the recruiting cycle to Florida and held firm on his commitment despite late rumors that he could flip during the early signing period last December. Lagway committed to Florida over USC, Texas A&M and Baylor, among others.
Florida is entering a critical season under Napier after going 5-7 during the 2023 campaign. Florida plays Samford next at home on Sept. 7 before facing Texas A&M in its first SEC game.