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 in jeopardy and leaves the Gators searching for answers. UF (1-2, 0-1) fell behind 20-0 and never got closer than 13 points against the Aggies (2-1, 1-0).
DJ Lagway is the future, not the Gators’ savior.
Lagway followed a record-setting night last week against Samford University with a reality check 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 foe for 456 yards and 3 scores during his first start for injured veteran Graham Mertz (concussion).
The talented 19-year-old is UF’s quarterback of the future, but calls for him to become the team’s starter proved to be premature. Mertz could not elevate the Gators’ attack to match the Aggies but he did finish 12 of 15 for 195 yards, a touchdown and a pick-six.
A two-quarterback system should continue, with Mertz in the lead role but featuring some flexibility if one of them gets a hot hand.
The defense is as bad as it ever was — maybe worse.
The Gators are playing for their third defensive coordinator in three seasons, added key transfers to all three levels and boast several sophomores who earned valuable playing experience in 2023. Yet Florida’s D remains a sieve, continuing to lack physicality, playmaking ability or discipline.
Texas A&M ran circles around the Gators with backup true freshman quarterback Marcel Reed accounting for 261 yards and 3 scores, including 83 of the Aggies’ 310 rushing yards.
“It’s disgusting,” Napier said.
Transfer receivers are a bright spot.
With sophomore star Tre Wilson sidelined, transfers Elijhah Badger (Arizona State) and Chimere Dike (Wisconsin) continued to produce as the next-best options in the passing game.
The duo combined 11 catches, six by Dike, for 185 yards, including 94 by Badger, and each scored a touchdown. Dike also downed a punt on the Texas A&M 1. But the Aggies put together a 15-play drive to score a touchdown for a 20-0 lead.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
