Graham Mertz identifies the area Florida needs to grow the most before season
Graham Mertz was honest about his performance and Florida’s needs before fall camp. The Wisconsin transfer identified the areas of growth needed moving forward.
It was all in the details for the quarterback. While nothing’s settled on the starting quarterback decision for Billy Napier, Mertz at least knows what needs to be done.
In the end, Mertz said the little things could pay off big time for Florida.
“I think the details,” Mertz said of the biggest need for growth for Florida. “I mean, I think that at this time of the year, I’ve been through a few spring balls now, at this point it’s all about the details. You got a group of what, 20 to 25 guys that are new on this team? New playbook. Whether they’re transfers or they’re incoming freshmen.
“So I mean, a lot of guys’ heads are out there spinning but from this point on, it’s all about the details and really owning (it). (Some of these guys feel) like (they were) thrown into the fire … But now it’s about really locking in on the little things that win games, especially in the SEC.”
It’s been an up and down career for Mertz but a fresh start away from Wisconsin could be good for the quarterback. In his career, Mertz has 5,405 yards, 38 touchdowns, 26 interceptions and a 59.5% completion percentage.
Now Mertz might grow in the Florida system later in his career.
“Yeah, I mean, first off, I just gotta say, I’m blessed to be here,” Mertz said. “Like I said earlier in spring, I mean, I wake up every day just grateful to see the sun every day, which is stupid. But when you’re in Wisconsin for a while, you realize what the sun is. So I mean, I really enjoyed the spring. I think that personally, I grew as a player. And as a young man. It’s been a great spring. I mean, put in a lot of work here. It’s only just a start for it. So I mean, we’re gonna have a lot of work to do, but I’m excited for it.”
As a member of the Class of 2019, Mertz was a four-star recruit out of Mission (Kan.) Blue Valley North, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 4 quarterback in the class and the No. 57 overall prospect in the class.