Efficient Graham Mertz Has Made Florida Better

Graham Mertz (Florida Athletics Photo)

Kentucky at one time seemed to be the most likely landing spot when three-year starter Graham Mertz decided to leave Wisconsin. Instead, offensive coordinator Liam Coen returned to UK, targeted North Carolina State transfer Devin Leary and Mertz went to Florida where he will be the starting quarterback for the Gators against UK Saturday.

“He’s been very good with the football. They have very few turnovers in general. I want to say he maybe has one,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “He’s been very efficient, very smart getting rid of the football and taking care of the ball. In running their offense, he’s been very efficient. He’s playing very well.” 

Mertz has completed an SEC-leading 77.8 percent of his passes for 951 yards and four touchdowns and also ran for two scores going into Saturday’s game. He led Florida to a 29-16 victory over Tennessee to start SEC play.

“Graham’s made our team better,” Florida coach Billy Napier said Monday.  “His work habits, his attitude, his practice approach, the way he prepares, his leadership. I think this guy has done a really good job for our team. He’s playing at a high level.

“We need to keep him cleaner. He got hit a few too many times on Saturday, but the ball’s going where it’s supposed to go. The guy’s been really accurate. And Saturday — look, I think, if you charted the incompletions, some of those are bad design and some of those are drops, so I think — or maybe he’s throwing it away because of the rush. So he’s playing really efficiently for us right now.”

Napier said no one works harder than Mertz and it has been “gratifying” to see the results he’s had for Florida (3-1).

“I think ultimately for me I see a guy who’s having fun playing football, and he’s voiced that to me. Man, this is unbelievable. He’s just having fun playing the game, right? It makes me want to play again, to be quite honest,” Napier said.

“He’s just in the moment. He’s enjoying it. I think it’s been great to see him. He’s a great competitor on game day. This guy’s tough. He’s into it. He’s present. I think he’s just in a good place. I’m proud of him.”