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Graham Mertz collects two awards for performance at South Carolina

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•10/16/23•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Graham Mertz‘s career day didn’t go unnoticed. The Florida Gators quarterback was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week as well as the Davey O’Brien Great 8 List for Week 7. By being named to the list, Mertz is now officially on the Midseason Watch List and is eligible for the 2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

Mertz completed 30-of-48 passes for 423 yards passing and three touchdowns. It was the first 400-yard passing performance by a Gator quarterback since Anthony Richardson on Nov. 19, 2022, against Vanderbilt and the first-ever 400-yard passing game by a Florida quarterback against South Carolina.

Mertz set career-high marks in pass attempts and passing yards during Saturday’s contest. His two previous highs in these categories were set in Florida’s Week 1 contest against Utah.

Trailing the Gamecocks by 10 in the fourth quarter, Mertz led Florida to two touchdown drives to complete the comeback on the road.

After a game sealing interception and run out of the clock, the Gators had completed the first double-digit fourth-quarter road comeback since September 23, 2017 against Vanderbilt and the most recent double-digit comeback (home or away; at any point of the game) since 2019 at Kentucky.

Trey Smack named Co-Special Teams Player of the Week

Mertz, was not the only Gator contributing to the 41 point offensive output. Trey Smack was an important component in the Gators victory and was named SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 7.

This is the second time this season that Smack has been presented with this award as he was honored back in Week 4 when the Gators recorded a victory over Charlotte.

On Saturday against South Carolina Smack made four of five field goals, converted on all three extra point attempts, and totaled nine kickoffs for 516 yards, averaging 57.3 yards per kick and recording six touchbacks.

The Severna Park, Maryland native tied his career-long field goal during the contest as he drilled a 54-yard attempt in the third quarter.

Smack also recorded two makes from 44 and 48 yards. His only miss during the contest, and for the season, was blocked by South Carolina.

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