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Florida football entered the 2024 season with two quarterbacks who proved capable of playing at a high level against SEC competition.
The Florida Gators (4-4, 2-3 SEC) even alternated incumbent starter Graham Mertz and five-star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway at times to keep opposing defenses off balance.
But on Oct. 13, Florida lost Mertz to the season after he tore his ACL against Tennessee, turning the job over to Lagway. Then, last Saturday against Georgia, Lagway was carted off the field with a hamstring pull in the second quarter, turning the quarterback position over to redshirt freshman Aidan Warner, a Yale transfer and preferred walk-on who won the No. 3 quarterback job in fall camp over scholarship quarterback Clay Millen.
Warner could wind up making his first career start on Saturday when Florida plays at No. 5 Texas (noon, ABC). Against Georgia, Werner went 7 of 22 for 66 yards with an interception, looking overmatched at times against UGA’s athletic, physical defense.
“It’s a pretty big stage to trot out there in the middle of that one, which, yeah, I’ve been impressed with him,” Napier said. “He won the job back during training camp, late training camp going into week one in the season …
“He got reps for the last couple of weeks as the two, and I would say he’s had some really good practices. I think there are some things to be encouraged about.”
Why Florida football is in a precarious position at QB
Mertz and Lagway going down presented a situation that’s tough on any major conference program. Napier tried to establish depth at quarterback in three seasons, but circumstances arose, some that were out of his control.
“We carry four on scholarship typically and a fifth if we were able to, but nowadays there’s a lack of patience, and everybody wants to be the guy,” Napier said. “I just think you are always…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-florida-football-faces-quarteback-090526978.html
Author : The Gainesville Sun
Publish date : 2024-11-06 09:05:26
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