Installing a true freshman at quarterback is typically a blood-in-the-water moment for most college football programs, but that’s not the case with [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] and the Florida Gators.
“One opposing assistant coach told me that Florida is playing better now that Lagway is starting after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending injury,” ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich wrote on Thursday. “Lagway makes the Gators more difficult to defend. ‘He made us nervous because of the things he could do with his feet,’ the source said.”
The offense has slowed down to allow the 19-year-old to adjust, and “he’s handled it good,” per Dinich’s source. While Lagway has only made two starts — one against FCS Samford and another against SEC bottom-dweller Kentucky — he showed flashes of being able to handle college football’s toughest conference during the second half against Tennessee.
The Gators ultimately fell in overtime against the Volunteers, but Lagway managed to handle a hostile Tennessee crowd after taking over the reigns once Mertz went down. Should Lagway find continued success over the next month, it might just save Billy Napier’s job.
“Still, everyone knows a huge test is looming against Georgia,” Dinich continued. “And that’s just the beginning of a November gauntlet that also includes Texas, LSU and Ole Miss. ‘If they are competitive through all of this, he’ll probably be OK,’ the source said, speculating on Napier’s job security.
“‘If the bottom falls out, there’s going to be some issues.’ Given how much the Gators have had to rely on young players at key positions, including (Jadan) Baugh against Kentucky — and they were tasked this season with playing the nation’s most difficult schedule — it only seems fair to let this situation play out a little more before throwing dirt on Napier, and my guess is that’s what this administration does.”
Napier’s hot seat is still a bit toasty for now, but there’s no doubt that the success Florida has found since its first bye week has cooled things down a bit.
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