GAINESVILLE — Florida true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway’s first spring scrimmage was a milestone and a measuring stick for the 18-year-old, along with the rest of the Gators.
Only Lagway, the nation’s No. 1 QB recruit in 2024, arrived with a good bit more fanfare and fascination than the vast majority of his new teammates. While his role is yet to be determined, he is sure to have one in 2024 alongside veteran incumbent Graham Mertz.
Playing primarily with the second-team offense Saturday in the Swamp, Lagway showcased his athletic ability but also made clear the learning curve ahead.
“He did a lot of good today,” Gators coach Billy Napier said after the closed scrimmage. “He made some plays with his feet; played with the 2s most of the day. I think that’s where he’s at.”
Lagway has impressed coaches and teammates with his ability to pick up the offense. It’s no surprise it has not always translated to the field.
“The big next step for him is the game-management piece,” Napier said.
The 6-foot-3, 238-pound Texan can no longer overwhelm his competition with size and raw ability, but it has not stopped him from trying.
Napier said he at one point Saturday asked Lagway whether he’d grown up playing Texas Hold ‘Em, given that the Gators’ quarterback of the future needed to occasionally fold ’em rather than go all-in.
“You got to learn how to play the next hand,” Napier said. “Play the next play, managing the situation thinking of your decision-making relative to the game and the team within that setting. He’s done a really good job in a practice setting, but today was new for him.”
Time and natural talent are on Lagway’s side.
Meanwhile, Mertz continues to be a valuable resource as Lagway learns the ropes.
“Graham has earned the respect of his teammates with the way he prepares,” Napier said. “This guy lives in the building, very process-oriented. He’s maximizing all parts of his day, and he’s an example. Think about good teams; typically the quarterback sets the pace.
“He’s done that.”
Mertz, 23 and in his sixth year in college, has his own areas to improve in Year 2 with the Gators following a 5-7 season.
During his time at Wisconsin (2019-22), Mertz developed a bad habit of forcing the action. He transferred after the 2022 season with a respectable 19-13 record as a starter but also 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
Mertz cleaned up his act in 2023 at Florida, throwing 20 touchdowns and 3 interceptions while completing a SEC-leading 72.9% of his passes.
The next step is to develop a balance between efficiency and aggressiveness. After all, the Gators’ 14 passes of 30 yards or longer were fewer than any team in the SEC but Mississippi State (13).
“He proved that he could play clean ball last year,” Napier said. “Now it’s about trying to improve the calculated risk: let’s try to be aggressive and manage the game and eliminate careless play. But let’s try to go create more explosive plays and distribute the ball, be the point guard and push the ball down the court.”
Napier and his staff aim to find the right buttons to push with every player on the roster during the final seven of 15 spring practices, culminating with the April 13 Orange and Blue game.
“The next two weeks are going to be critical,” Napier said. “We’ve got to get really specific about the areas where we need to improve. We’ll present plans to the players individually, the position groups, the units and the entire team.”
Defense won the day Saturday.
Napier said the offense committed two turnovers in the red zone. He also noted a few disappointing penalties.
Improved tackling in a secondary and the play of South Carolina transfer linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard stood out.
“But overall, it was back-and-forth,” Napier said. “There were bright spots on both sides.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]
