Now, Mertz is ready to take on a role that could wind up being valuable to the Florida Gators for the remainder of the 2024 season: an on-field mentor to freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. "I think that my job right now is — obviously you got surgery coming ...

Mertz’s plan involves guiding Lagway, a five-star recruit from Texas who has completed 65.3% of his passes for 765 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Mertz embraced coach Billy Napier’s plan for them to share playing time this season and has done everything possible to help Lagway grow.

Billy Napier began to deploy his two quarterbacks during a 33-20 loss Sept. 14 at home against Texas A&M. Mertz and Lagway played well together and forced Florida opponents to prepare for two

Lagway and Mertz -- who was at Wisconsin from 2019-22 before leaving the Big Ten's Badgers for the Southeastern Conference's Gators -- were sharing snaps this season, so the younger quarterback isn't being completely throw into a new situation.

Despite a recent trend in college football for players to seek an extra year of eligibility through a medical redshirt, Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz didn’t expect his college career to end so unceremoniously, with a torn ACL in his left knee and half a season to go. “Obviously didn’t want to go out that way,” he said Wednesday.