![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier runs onto the field before the start of the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 7, 2024 against the Samford Bulldogs. The Gators won 45-7. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_903,w_4106,h_2309/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/273/01j7e035pzg1k2jms6gx.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier runs onto the field before the start of the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 7, 2024 against the Samford Bulldogs. The Gators won 45-7. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
How Billy Napier's QB stubbornness could behoove Texas A&M football versus Florida
It’s no secret that Texas A&M football’s opponent this weekend, the Florida Gators, are in turmoil at the moment. Following an emotional roller coaster last season that extended into the recruiting window, Billy Napier’s team needed to produce results—and quickly—in 2024.
The Gators, as most college football fans are aware, have an extremely difficult schedule this year. Especially down the back half of the year, the average level of UF’s opponents is markedly higher than that of any other team in the nation.
Because of this, it was vital to have a quick start to the year. Well, I guess you can throw that out the window!
What that means now is that the Aggies will be facing off against a desperate team and a coaching staff who will be influenced by the mood of the fanbase—either positively or negatively. In situations like this, a group can either inherit a bunker mentality or try to be crowd-pleasers.
For Napier and company, this is manifesting itself chiefly when it comes to their quarterback situation. After a statistically impressive day from touted freshman DJ Lagway this past Saturday, fans are clamoring to see him start over veteran Graham Mertz.
The problem is that Napier is still playing his QB decision somewhat close to the vest. Though he gave an indication after the game on Saturday that he intended to stick with Mertz, he more recently gestured vaguely at the idea that he may play both passers against the Aggies.
To me, though, this comes across as a smokescreen. I simply don’t believe that he wants to play Lagway at this point unless it is absolutely necessary—just like Jimbo with Weigman, he is a “break glass in case of emergency” option in the UF coaching staff’s mind.
Lagway is undeniably talented, however, and we’ve seen enough of Mertz’s ceiling to know that this may not be the decision that gives the Gators the best chance to win. Especially against a ferocious defensive front for the Aggies, neither guy will have a lot of time to sit in the pocket and look downfield.
If Napier is indeed sticking with Mertz due to the aforementioned bunker mentality, then I think this is a huge benefit to the Aggies. Not only for the present, but possibly the future. Here’s hoping Texas A&M football can take care of business no matter who is behind center come Saturday.