Florida names Graham Mertz starting QB: Wisconsin transfer given offensive reins for season opener vs. Utah

Florida trainer Billy Napier named Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz his workforce’s starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Mertz, who joined the Gators forward of spring observe, was once Florida’s anticipated starter given his wealth of revel in on the energy convention degree. 

Napier’s choice comes only a day after Florida held its first scrimmage of the autumn camp slate. 

“I think the big thing I’ve been impressed with is just his ability to come in and learn the system, translate what he knows and apply that to our system,” Napier mentioned in a remark. “And then just, you know, relentless in approach. Probably’s worked as hard as any player on our team. Probably as hard as a lot of players that I’ve been around, you know, in terms of the unseen hours, right? Those are what I’m talking about specifically, and the self-discipline, to have a system, a process, a routine, to work, to connect with players, ask very intelligent questions, and is anticipating problems, right. 

“So, Graham’s executed an ideal activity and he is labored from the minute he pulled up within the parking zone till, you already know, only a whilst in the past, he is persisted to paintings to fortify, so been more than happy in that regard,” Napier continued. “The degree of professionalism right here that I believe is revered.”

Mertz beat out some other former Big Ten transfer in Jack Miller III, who joined Florida forward of the 2022 season after two years at Ohio State. Miller even had starting revel in for the Gators, as he was once first off the bench of their Las Vegas Bowl loss to Oregon State. 

What Mertz brings to the desk

Mertz were given his first style of Florida soccer within the Blue and Orange Game, which closed the Gators’ spring observe slate. He finished 18 of his 29 move makes an attempt for 244 yards and one landing, main the Orange Team to a 10-7 win. 

He began gradual, posting best 10 of the ones yards within the first quarter, however threw for 136 in the second one body. 

The spotlight of Mertz’s sport is his revel in. Few quarterbacks within the 2023 transfer cycle have been as battle-tested. He began each unmarried common season sport at Wisconsin during the last 3 years and completed his profession tied for the sixth-most begins in program historical past (32). His 19 wins as a starter ranked 8th all time amongst Wisconsin quarterbacks. 

He additionally changed into simply the 8th Wisconsin QB to eclipse 5,000 profession passing yards. His 13 passing touchdowns in Big Ten play have been probably the most via a Badger in Big Ten play since 2017. Mertz’s largest fight has been taking good care of the ball. He has thrown a median of 14.5 landing passes to ten.5 interceptions during the last two years. 

His 159 passing yards according to sport for his profession go away so much to be desired as smartly. Mertz had a minimum of 2,000 passing yards in one season simply as soon as in his 4 years with the Badgers. 

Florida opens the 2023 season with an enormous problem because it hits the street Aug. 31 to play reigning Pac-12 champion Utah.