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Graham Mertz to miss the rest of the 2024 season with injury

Untitled designby: Nick de la Torre10/14/24delatorre
Graham-Mertz-Florida-Gators-Tennessee-Billy-Napier
Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) points against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators senior quarterback Graham Mertz will miss the rest of the 2024 football season with a torn ACL, Billy Napier confirmed on Monday. The Gators will start true freshman DJ Lagway for the rest of the season.

“Graham Mertz has torn his ACL and he will be done for the season. He will have surgery next week. It’s only right for me to say how much I appreciate what he has brought to the team.”

Mertz sent the following message to Gator Nation.

“Gator Nation, thank you for two incredible years in Gainesville. Unfortunately, I suffered a torn ACL against Tennessee and will miss the remainder of the season. During my recovery, I will remain a part of the program and do whatever I can in meeting rooms and from the sideline to help my teammates win. I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support during this time.”

It was a freak injury for Mertz, who was moving away from contact just after releasing a pass that went for a touchdown to tight end Arlis Boardingham. Mertz took a step and immediately went down to the turf. Mertz was attended to by trainers on the field before walking off to the sideline on his own. He went into the injury tent before going to the locker room. Mertz was seen back on the sideline

Before the injury, Mertz had thrown for 791 yards on 72-of-94 (76.6%) passing for six touchdowns and two interceptions. Mertz played in five games this season, his sixth season in college.

“I think it’s tough,” Billy Napier said after the game. “Obviously, Graham played phenomenal in the game in my opinion. I thought he was lights out. Really prepared well and came to play. He does have an injury, a lower-body injury. Obviously, we’ll give you some updates on that once when we get to next week. It was significant enough that he couldn’t complete the game.”

DJ Lagway will take over for Graham Mertz

Lagway came to Florida as a five-star and the highest-rated quarterback the University of Florida has ever signed.

Lagway finished 9 of 17 for 98 yards with a touchdown and interception. He has rotated playing time with Mertz for much of the season.

His interception came on his first passing attempt after Mertz was out of the game. Lagway also threw a touchdown pass with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

On the season, Lagway has completed 47-of-72 (65.3%) passing attempts for 765 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He’s added 50 yards on the ground.

“One of the things about DJ that I respect is that as a competitor he has this unique ability to raise his level of play at critical moments,” Napier said of Lagway. “I think you obviously not only picked the right route progression but had to move and threw a strike in a critical moment. And, look, I thought he even did some of his more impressive stuff in the first half when he was playing. I thought he did a lot of really good things. For a rookie to go, play on the road in that environment, to step up in a big time, big moment. He’s got that in his DNA. There’s a bright future ahead of it for him.”

That future will start this week against Kentucky.

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