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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Author
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz could have surgical procedure and sit out the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee throughout Saturday’s overtime loss to Tennessee, coach Billy Napier introduced Monday.
“It is solely proper that I say how a lot I respect what he is delivered to the workforce,” Napier stated.
It was an excruciating means for Mertz, a sixth-year senior, to finish his school profession. It was a noncontact harm that occurred after he threw a 13-yard landing cross to Arlis Boardingham halfway by way of the third quarter to place Florida forward 10-0.
As Mertz was backing up after making the throw, his leg appeared to land awkwardly on the turf. He was tended to by trainers, limped off the sector and slammed his helmet to the bottom when he reached the sideline. Mertz watched the fourth quarter on crutches and carrying a brace on his knee.
With Mertz sidelined, Florida will flip to true freshman DJ Lagway full time at quarterback.
Mertz sent a message on social media to Florida followers and thanked them for “two unimaginable years in Gainesville.” Throughout his restoration, he vowed to “stay part of this system and do no matter I can in assembly rooms and from the sideline to assist my teammates win.”
Thanks, Gator Nation
pic.twitter.com/8pKEbwaos6
— Graham Mertz (@GrahamMertz5) October 14, 2024
Mertz was additionally injured to finish final season when he fractured his collarbone within the next-to-last sport towards Missouri. He elected to return for the 2024 season as a substitute of coming into the NFL draft.
He sat out a Week 2 win this season over Samford after sustaining a concussion within the season-opening loss to Miami. Mertz started his profession at Wisconsin and was a three-year starter for the Badgers earlier than transferring to Florida.
In 5 video games this season, Mertz handed for six touchdowns with two interceptions. He leads the nation with a 76.6 completion share and threw a landing cross in 15 of his 16 profession begins at Florida.
Lagway had been rotating with Mertz for a lot of this season and began for the injured Mertz in Week 2 and handed for 456 yards. Within the loss to Tennessee, Lagway threw a 27-yard landing cross to Chimere Dike on third-and-19 within the remaining seconds to pressure additional time.
Lagway was ESPN’s top-rated quarterback nationally within the 2024 signing class and the No. 8 prospect general.
The Gators (3-3, 1-2 SEC) return dwelling to face Kentucky on Saturday. Then they play 4 straight video games towards groups ranked within the prime 20 within the AP ballot, together with three groups within the prime 8 (No. 5 Georgia, No. 1 Texas and No. 8 LSU).
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