Highly Touted Florida Freshman Dj Lagway Steps In For Graham Mertz Against Samford

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks for a receiver during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks for a receiver during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Samford (0-1) at Florida (0-1), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

BetMGM College Football Odds: No line.

Series record: Florida leads 3-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Potentially Florida coach Billy Napier’s job. Napier can ill-afford a lackluster effort against the lower-division Bulldogs in the Swamp, not after last week’s 41-17 drubbing at the hands of then-No. 19 Miami. The Gators were dominated on both lines of scrimmage, so outmatched that the home crowd started heading for the exits in third quarter.

KEY MATCHUP

Napier versus a frustrated fanbase. This could be a game in which the Florida faithful show how far they’ve swung from enthusiastic to apathetic in one week. Napier is likely to get booed during pre-game introductions. He is 11-15 in Gainesville, including a six-game skid.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Samford: QB Quincy Crittendon became only the second quarterback in coach Chris Hatcher’s 10-year tenure to throw for 300 yards and rush for 90 more in the same game. He could pose problems for the Gators, who have struggled to slow down dual-threat passers the last few years.

Florida: Freshman QB DJ Lagway makes his first career start, stepping in for injured senior Graham Mertz (concussion). A five-star prospect from Willis, Texas, Lagway was the consensus No. 1 QB recruit in the country last year. He threw for 4,604 and 58 touchdowns as a senior at Willis High. He also led the team in rushing with 957 yards and 16 scores.

FACTS & FIGURES

Samford gave Florida a scare in 2021. The Bulldogs led 42-35 at halftime and set the record for the most points scored against the Gators in any half at Florida Field. … The Bulldogs have 11 current players who saw action in that game, which the Gators won 70-52. … Samford is 2-81-3 against teams from the Southeastern Conference, with the victories coming against Mississippi State in 1909 and 1934. … Florida will be without four defensive starters: safety Asa Turner, cornerback Devin Moore, nickel cornerback Sharif Denson and defensive tackle Joey Slackman. … The Gators have scored in an NCAA-record 449 consecutive games, 53 longer than anyone else in college football history.

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