Florida Gators QB Graham Mertz Out for Season with Torn ACL

Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to a severe knee injury suffered during the team’s 23-17 overtime loss to Tennessee on Saturday. According to Coach Billy Napier, Mertz tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during the third quarter of the game.

The injury occurred when Mertz threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Arlis Boardingham, giving the Gators a 10-0 lead. After the throw, Mertz awkwardly caught his cleat in the turf and limped off the field. He was evaluated in the locker room and later returned to the sideline wearing street clothes and a knee brace.

Mertz will undergo surgery next week. This injury marks the end of his college eligibility with the Gators, as he is a sixth-year senior from Overland, Kansas. Mertz had a notable career at Florida, completing 73.7% of his passes for 3,694 yards, with 26 touchdowns and five interceptions in his time with the team.

In Mertz’s absence, highly touted freshman DJ Lagway will take over as the full-time starting quarterback. Lagway, who is from Willis, Texas, and was the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the Top247 rankings, has already shown promise. He threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike with 29 seconds left in regulation against Tennessee, giving the Gators a chance to tie the game.

Lagway’s first official start in the post-Mertz era will be against Kentucky during Florida’s homecoming game. The Gators face a challenging schedule ahead, including games against No. 5 Georgia, No. 1 Texas, No. 8 LSU, and No. 18 Ole Miss in successive weeks.