The first in a position-by-position look at the 2024 Gators leading up to fall camp:
TODAY: QUARTERBACK
What to expect
Graham Mertz returned to raise his NFL draft stock, lead coach Billy Napier’s attack and mentor 5-star signee DJ Lagway. Lagway is the Gators’ quarterback of the future, but Napier is banking on Mertz to build on his best college season to get Florida on the winning track.
Mertz, 23, was wildly inconsistent before he transferred from Wisconsin (38 touchdowns, 26 interceptions, 59.5% in three seasons), but he proved incredibly efficient during his Gators’ debut. Mertz posted an SEC-best 72.9% completion rate, 20 touchdowns and 3 interceptions before he broke his collarbone on a running play at Missouri during the penultimate game of a 5-7 season.
Improvement of UF’s offensive line will be critical to the success of the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Mertz. He was sacked 31 times and rarely attacked down the field. The Gators’ 14 completions of 30 yards or longer ranked 104th of 133 teams nationally.
The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Lagway is a dual-threat with a strong arm. He accounted for 73 touchdowns at Willis (Texas) High to earn Gatorade National Player of the Year before he enrolled in January.
Lagway struggled with decision-making and turnovers during spring practices, but impressed during the Orange and Blue game. Napier aims to find a role for the talented freshman able to provide a different look for defenses.
Colorado State transfer Clay Millen is the Gators’ other scholarship QB. In two seasons he threw 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 10 starts for the Rams, but was benched a Week 1 drubbing at Washington State.
Napier also brought in three preferred walk-ons, Aidan Warner (Yale), Paul Kessler (Santa Monica College) and Parker Leise (IMG Academy).
Warner, who has four years of eligibility, threw 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions as a 3-star recruit at Winter Park High; Kessler spent a season in Santa Monica after totaling 44 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in two seasons at Venice High School; and Leise, a native of Kansas like Mertz, arrives after completing just 46% of his throws for 18 touchdowns and 6 picks as an IMG senior.
On the roster
Graham Mertz, R-Sr.
Parker Leise, R-Fr.
Departures
Max Brown (transfer to Charlotte) | 2,271 passing yards, 15 TDs, 8 INTs; 505 rushing yards, 5 TDs.
Jack Miller III (graduates)
Micah Leon (eligibility)
Arrivals
DJ Lagway, Fr. (signee)
Clay Millen, R-Jr. (transfer Colorado State)
Aidan Warner Fr. (transfer Yale)
Paul Kessler Fr. (transfer Santa Monica College)
Projected depth chart
QB1 — Graham Mertz
QB2 — DJ Lagway
QB3 — Clay Millen
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
