Florida didn’t get off to the hot start it was hoping for in the 2024 campaign. On Saturday, the Gators fell 41-17 to in-state rival Miami . The loss only added to the concerns around Florida head coach Billy Napier ‘s future with the program.
On Sunday, Paul Finebaum openly wondered what’s next for Napier and how he can salvage the season. Along the way, the SEC Network analyst also weighed in on freshman quarterback DJ Lagway ‘s role on the team.
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“The good will? Gone. The momentum? Gone,” Finebaum said . “The one thing Billy Napier has, based on everyone with whom I’ve spoke, is DJ Lagway. If he is this superstar, and if Napier can grab a hold of him and ride through some some turmoil and get to at least — I mean, what’s a respectable record — .500, right now? There’s a silver lining.”
Lagway is currently Florida’s backup quarterback behind Graham Mertz . On Saturday, Lagway completed 3-of-his-6 pass attempts for 31 yards and threw an interception. Lagway also recorded four carries for 20 yards.
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Although Lagway didn’t shine in his collegiate debut, he has no shortage of promise. He was the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings. Before the game on Saturday, Florida legend Tim Tebow raved about Lagway’s potential.
“DJ Lagway, our freshman quarterback, I think he’s extremely special,” Tebow said. “It’s not to take away from Graham, because I think Graham is the leader of the team. But I think DJ can step in and help in a lot of areas and I think give D-coordinators a couple of nightmares.”
The pressure increases on Billy Napier
Whoever Florida starts behind center, they must find a way to win. If Florida fires Napier, the school will owe him $26 million. Napier is only in his third year of the seven-year, $51.8 million contract he signed with Florida when he accepted the job in 2021.
Worse, Florida’s schedule isn’t about to grow easier. Eight of Florida’s regular-season opponents are ranked in the AP Top 25. Finebaum believes the Gators’ Week 3 matchup against Texas A&M is a must-win game.
“They got playoff teams every week with one or two exceptions,” Finebaum said. “A&M now becomes like the de facto season for him because if you start off losing two games you were supposed to win, and 6-6 or 7-5 was predicated on maybe only losing one game in the first half [of the season] to Tennessee on the road, which they will, then it becomes desperate very quickly.”
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