Florida Gators football goes with Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz as starting QB
Florida football named Graham Mertz as its starting quarterback for the 2023 season, hoping his leadership and experience as a Big Ten starter will translate into new surroundings in the SEC,
Mertz started 32 games in three seasons at Wisconsin, passing for 5,405 yards with 38 TDs to 26 interceptions.
The decision comes a day after the Florida Gators held their first scrimmage of fall camp. Mertz was competing with redshirt sophomore Jack Miller and true sophomore Max Brown for the job.
Mertz enrolled at UF in January and led all passers in UF's spring game, completing 18 of 29 passes for 244 yards and 1 TD. In fall camp, Mertz has shown the ability to get the ball on time, on target to his receivers.
"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," Florida coach Billy Napier said. "And then just, you know, relentless in approach. Probably has 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.,"
Florida running back Trevor Etienne said Mertz has won over teammates with his work ethic and energy.
“Definitely gets everyone going, having a high-motor quarterback," Etienne said. "But all quarterbacks, really, you can kind of tell they’re settling down, getting more confident in themselves. I feel like once they take control of the field and have the team behind them, we’ll leave it all on the line for our QBs.”
Mertz won't provide the same dynamism outside of the pocket as his predecessor, former UF starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, who rushed for 654 yards and 9 TDs last season. But at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Mertz does have the size to escape pressure and score at the goal line. He has 8 career rushing TDs.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators football names Graham Mertz as starting QB
