Florida’s starting redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 season after sustaining a torn ACL in the team’s loss to No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday, according to CBS Sports and 247 Sports.
Mertz went down with an awkward-looking non-contact injury in the third quarter of the Gators’ contest against the Volunteers. He had just thrown a touchdown to redshirt sophomore tight end Arlis Boardingham before he limped off the field in pain.
After returning from the locker room, Mertz reappeared on UF’s sideline in the fourth quarter. The veteran signal caller was no longer in uniform and sported a pair of crutches and a brace, signifying his night was over. In his post-game remarks, Florida head coach Billy Napier initially called the injury “significant enough that he couldn’t complete the game.”
Instead, all signs now point towards Mertz’s season (and tenure with Florida) being over. Through six games in 2024, Mertz was on pace for another productive campaign with the Gators, having completed 76.6 percent of his passes for 791 yards, six touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Mertz has already endured his fair share of injuries since joining the Gators last spring. In Florida's penultimate outing of the 2023 campaign, Mertz suffered a broken collarbone against Missouri that sidelined him for the remainder of last season.
Just less than a year later, in his first game back from injury, Mertz was sidelined yet again after sustaining a concussion in Florida’s 2024 season opener against Miami. He subsequently missed the Gators’ contest against Samford before returning against Texas A&M.
All eyes will now turn to freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, who is now expected to start under center for the remainder of the season. Lagway has already received a significant number of reps for the Gators this season. The five-star true freshman started in place of Mertz against Samford in Week 2, and has made scarce appearances to relieve Mertz every third drive in the last three games.
Lagway thrived against the Bulldogs, throwing for 465 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, he has completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 765 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. Lagway will now get his first career start against an SEC opponent Saturday, when Florida hosts Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Field at 7:45 p.m.
Contact Jack Meyer at jmeyer@alligator.org. Follow him on X @jackmeyerUF.
Jack Meyer is a fourth-year journalism major and the Assistant Sports Editor for The Alligator. In his free time, he enjoys reviewing music, spending time with friends, playing video games and going to the gym.
