GAINESVILLE — Florida‘s 33-20 home loss to Texas A&M to open SEC play Saturday night in the Swamp Put Billy Napier’s job at risk and leave it Alligators looking for answers. UF (1-2, 0-1) fell behind 20-0 and was never closer than 13 points against the Aggies (2-1, 1-0).
DJ Lagway He’s the future, not the savior of the Gators.
Lagway followed a record-breaking night last week against Samford University with a return to reality against Texas A&M. The Gators’ true freshman finished 6 of 13 for 54 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions after torching an overmatched FCS opponent for 456 yards and three scores in his first start for the injured veteran Graham Mertz (concussion).
The talented 19-year-old is UF’s future quarterbackBut calls to make him a starter proved premature. Mertz couldn’t elevate the Gators’ offense to the Aggies’ level, but he completed 12 of 15 passes for 195 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
A two-quarterback system is expected to continue, with Mertz in the lead role but with some flexibility if one of them finds himself in a tight spot.
The defense is as bad as it’s ever been – maybe even worse.
The Gators are playing for their third defensive coordinator in three seasonsadded key transfers at all three levels and has several sophomores who gained valuable playing experience in 2023. Still, Florida’s defense remains a sieve, still lacking physicality, playmaking ability or discipline.
Texas A&M dominated the Gators with backup quarterback Marcel Reed throwing for 261 yards and three scores, including 83 of the Aggies’ 310 rushing yards.
“It’s disgusting,” Napier said.
Transfer receivers are a positive.
With Tre Wilson, sophomore star sidelined, transfers Elijah Badger (State of Arizona) and Chimera Dam (Wisconsin) continued to perform as the top options in the passing game.
The duo combined for 11 receptions, six by Dike, for 185 yards, including 94 by Badger, and each scored a touchdown. Dike also stopped a punt at the Texas A&M 1 line. But the Aggies went on a 15-play drive to score a touchdown and lead 20-0.
You can reach Edgar Thompson at [email protected]
