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‘A no-brainer’: Graham Mertz details decision to transfer to Florida

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•03/17/23•

ZachAbolverdi

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Florida QB Graham Mertz. (Ashley Ray/UAA Photo)

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For the second year in a row, the Gators landed a Big Ten transfer at the quarterback position this offseason. The latest addition is Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz, a three-year starter for the Badgers.

Mertz entered the portal on Dec. 4 and, after attending one of Florida’s bowl practices and visiting the school, decided to call Gainesville his new home. UF coach Billy Napier and offensive analyst Ryan O’Hara, both former quarterbacks, were a big reason why.

“My biggest thing is I want to be coached, and I want to be coached hard,” Mertz told Scott Carter of FloridaGators.com. “The standard here is exactly where you want it to be. It was nice to have that plan and hear that. They were 100 percent honest with me, telling me what they saw in my game, what I needed to improve, and how they would improve it. That was very refreshing.

“For me, it was a no-brainer.”

Mertz finished the 2022 regular season with a career-high 2,136 passing yards and a 57 percent completion rate (164 of 286).

After throwing 10 scores and 11 picks in 2021, he improved his touchdown-interception ratio last year with 19 TDs against 10 INTs.

Mertz transferred to Florida in January and made a strong first impression on his new coaches and teammates during offseason workouts.

“It’s been a really smooth transition,” Mertz said. “I love all the guys in that locker room. I’m very excited about what we’re going to be able to do. And the cool part about this group is we know we’ve got a lot of work to do ahead of that. The guys are staying in the moment, which is what I love.”

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Mertz will be battling for the starting job with the other Big Ten transfer at the position, former Ohio State QB Jack Miller III. Miller made his UF debut and his first career start in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Mertz discussed his mindset heading into the quarterback competition this offseason.

“Whenever you are in a position like this – and there’s only one of them – you’ve got to bring your best every day,” Mertz said. “And if you’re not, they’ll find somebody that will. That’s the nature of this position. That’s the nature of the sport. On my end, I know if I handle my business, I will be great. That’s my biggest thing: push myself every day to a higher standard, and that’s where you see that growth.”

Click here to read Carter’s full story on Mertz as well as a Q&A with the new Florida quarterback.

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