Billy Napier on Florida's quarterback battle: 'We've seen enough'

With the college football season just two weeks away from kicking off, roster decisions, specifically quarterback competitions, are going to start wrapping up here soon. Florida was the latest to let their choice be known based on what Billy Napier announced today.

However, although the Gators have apparently seen what they’ve needed to do to name their QB1, Napier did not give an official name at his press conference today. The battle may be over but he says there are still some things that they need to do in-house before making their decision public.

“We’ve seen enough,” Napier said. “I think the big thing is we want to go through a process with our players and team before we announce it to the media, if that makes sense.”

Anthony Richardson’s replacement will either be Graham Mertz, a transfer from Wisconsin, or Jack Miller, a former four-star who transferred to Gainesville last offseason after two years at Ohio State.

Mertz has the edge in experience considering how much he played over the past three seasons in Madison. In 32 starts in that time, he completed over 450 passes for over 5,300 passing yards and 38 touchdowns for the Badgers.

As for Miller, he played in just one game for Florida last season due to injury. That was when Richardson opted out of their appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl. In their 30-3 loss to Oregon State, he went 13-22 (59.1%) for 180 passing yards.

Many have projected Mertz as Florida’s starter for some time now and, in the end, he may very well be. Napier is keeping his lips sealed, though, as far as an official announcement either way.

“We’re on a schedule, we’ll get that accomplished, and we’ll let you know,” Napier said.

Napier assesses Florida’s quarterback competitors

Billy Napier isn’t rushing Florida‘s quarterback battle. Graham Mertz and Jack Miller have been neck-and-neck so far heading into the second week of fall camp.

Napier will have to make a decision eventually. As far as Mertz, though, his 32 starts and over 2,000 snaps are attractive to his new head coach. Even so, that isn’t why he recruited him to begin with.

“I think Graham’s an accomplished player. But, more importantly, I’ve been impressed with the person and the leader,” Napier said of Mertz at SEC Media Days.

Miller has made it tough for Napier to name Mertz the outright starter. Having been a four-star high school prospect out of Scottsdale (AZ), he was ranked the No. 26 quarterback in the nation for the 2020 class according to On3’s Industry Ranking. 

Ohio State was his school of initial college choice as he appeared in six games in two seasons. That was before he took his talents down to the Swamp.

“This guy has an incredible work ethic. He is in the building and he is fanatical about his preparation,” Napier said of Miller at Media Days. “I think that has helped the competition, I think it’s caused Jack to respond. Jack’s had an incredible offseason and he’s in position for a great camp.”