**Florida Quarterback Graham Mertz to Undergo Surgery, Miss Remainder of Season**

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. The injury, which occurred during Florida's overtime loss to Tennessee, was confirmed by Gators coach Billy Napier on Monday. Napier expressed his gratitude for Mertz's contributions, saying, "It's only right that I say how much I appreciate what he's brought to the team."

The injury happened in an agonizing manner for Mertz, a sixth-year senior, marking a bitter end to his college career. The non-contact injury occurred in the third quarter after Mertz threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Arlis Boardingham, giving Florida a 10-0 lead. As Mertz backed up following the throw, his leg landed awkwardly on the turf, leading to the injury. He was attended to by trainers, left the field limping, and visibly frustrated, he slammed his helmet to the ground upon reaching the sideline. Mertz watched the remainder of the game on crutches with a knee brace.

With Mertz sidelined, Florida is set to rely on true freshman DJ Lagway to take on the quarterback role full time. Mertz conveyed his gratitude to Florida fans through social media, highlighting his "two incredible years in Gainesville" and his commitment to supporting his team during his recovery. He pledged to remain engaged with the program and assist his teammates in any capacity possible.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first season-ending injury for Mertz. He ended the previous season with a fractured collarbone sustained in a game against Missouri. Opting to return for the 2024 season instead of entering the NFL draft, Mertz showed his resilience. He also missed a game earlier this season against Samford after suffering a concussion in the season opener versus Miami.

Before transferring to Florida, Mertz was a three-year starter at Wisconsin. This season, in five games, he managed to pass for six touchdowns with two interceptions and led the country with a 76.6 completion percentage. Mertz also maintained a streak, throwing a touchdown pass in 15 of his 16 career starts at Florida.

DJ Lagway has shared playing time with Mertz this season, stepping in for Mertz in Week 2 and passing for 456 yards. Notably, Lagway threw a critical 27-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike on third-and-19 to force overtime in the Tennessee game. ESPN rated Lagway as the top quarterback nationally in the 2024 signing class and the No. 8 prospect overall.