Gators on top for newly offered JUCO DL
The Florida Gators started to make contact with Hutchinson (KS) C.C. junior college defensive lineman Tarvorise Brown in the last week. Conversations started to pick up into this week, and ultimately led to him visiting Gainesville on Saturday for UF’s ‘Grill in the Ville’ recruiting cookout. The trip was worth the time, as an offer was extended while in town.
“It’s a big step man,” Brown said. “I never thought I would get offered by an SEC school. It’s a blessing.”
Things moved quickly between Brown and the Gators. After contact was initially made, some conversations were had with defensive line coach Gerald Chatman. That quickly moved to getting him to campus and around the staff.
Napier’s greatest offseason triumph in the lead up to the 2024 season was, without question, earning the signature of former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, a transcendent talent who earned National Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps Player of the Year honors after throwing for 4,605 yards and 59 touchdowns and picking up 953 yards and 16 scores on the ground to boot as a high school senior.
Lagway’s rare blend of abilities has him poised to not only back up Mertz in 2024 as a true freshman but also to contribute in a limited-usage role in which he’ll have a handful of plays from which he can operate.
Mertz is expected to handle the vast majority of Florida’s reps under center but it’s safe to assume that Lagway will get some run, too.
“You’ve got a guy who started 43 games, played a ton of football and has a really good grasp of the system,” Napier said. “You’ve got this rookie who just showed up who’s a different type of player and has no experience and has a little bit different skillset. You always have to prepare as if the backup is one play away from running out there and having to be the guy, right? DJ he has openly said this, I’m getting better. That’s all I can worry about. I need to focus on the work, I need to improve and I need to communicate better, better command, better knowledge of the defense, better overall understanding of the system. He’s made great progress. He’s impressive.”
Lagway completed 12-of-21 passes for 173 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Florida’s spring game on April 13.
“Look, it would definitely make us harder to defend if both players (Mertz and Lagway) are able to contribute to our team,” Napier said. “Right now, we have to prepare as if [Lagway] is going to play every play, so that’s what we’re doing.”
