Graham Mertz on Florida heading into 2024: 'I think Gators fans are going to love what they see'

The 2024 season is going to be the second for quarterback Graham Mertz with the Florida Gators. It’s a season he believes that fans can be optimistic about.

While speaking to media at the Manning Passing Academy, Mertz explained that he believes this year’s Florida team has the depth and experience to be a better team this year than they had been in 2023.

“I think the Gator fans are gonna like what they see,” Graham Mertz said. “I mean, I think we’ve got depth. Added a bunch of new guys on both sides of the ball. Experienced guys. But, across the board, the amount of depth we have, it’s different than last year.”

In 2023, Florida went 5-7. That was the first time since 2017 that the Gators missed out on a bowl game and it came in the program’s second season under head coach Billy Napier. In those two seasons, Florida has gone just 11-14 under Napier, and given the fact that Florida has one of the most difficult schedules in the country, many expect it to be a difficult season for Florida.

Despite the concerns that fans may have about 2024, Graham Mertz doesn’t share those fears. Instead, he’s optimistic about the next season.

“So, I’m always optimistic about every season but I think we’ve got a special team,” Mertz concluded.

Graham Mertz came to Florida as a transfer from Wisconsin, where he played four seasons. That includes the pandemic-impacted 2020 season and the 2019 season when he only played in two games to take a redshirt. With that, he’s one of the most experienced quarterbacks in all of college football.

In the 2023 season at Florida, Mertz completed 72.9 percent of passes for 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns. Now, he’ll look to build on those numbers and help get the Gators back to the top of the SEC.

Graham Mertz on Florida having the toughest schedule

For a team looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, a tough schedule may seem like a bad thing. However, Graham Mertz is excited to have a difficult schedule in 2024.

“I love it. No, you don’t want the easiest schedule. I mean, I think that if you’re a competitor, and you love the game of football and if you love the big time games on the biggest stages — you don’t want to have the easiest schedule in the world,” Mertz said.

“So for us, we have the quote, unquote hardest schedule in the world That’s a good thing. Because if you go out there and you execute, you play good football and you win, then it’s like, okay, it’s the hardest schedule in the world. As a competitor, you want that.”