WATCH: Graham Mertz details transfer to UF, transition this spring

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Following Florida’s practice Saturday, Gators redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz met with the media for the first time since transferring from Wisconsin.

Mertz made 32 career starts for the Badgers before entering the portal last December and joining the UF football program with two years of eligibility left. He finished the 2022 regular season with a career-high 2,136 passing yards and a 57 percent completion rate (164 of 286).

His best game came against Northwestern, where he tossed 299 yards and five touchdowns on 20 of 29 passing to lead Wisconsin to a 42-7 win. After throwing 10 scores and 11 picks in 2021, he improved his touchdown-interception ratio last year with 19 TDs against 10 INTs.

In the video below, Mertz discusses his decision to transfer to Florida, how the transition has been this offseason and his competition with Jack Miller III in spring camp.

Graham Mertz quotes

On transferring to Florida:

Mertz: “Just from the jump, after entering the portal, I mean it was such a different process for a kid that went through recruiting before, like, all the changes that came with college football. So for me, it was just my family and close circle, it was gathering information and making the best decision for me, and taking a look and just really seeing what that best fit was. And I came down here and I mean, you fall in love with the weather, you fall in love with people. Great coaches, great teammates. I love the direction that coach [Billy] Napier is taking this, and it’s a program, it’s a setup that is, it’s a pro-program. You can take program, but if you capitalize the pro, that’s how he runs it here. So really, just from the start, I fell in love with this place and I knew this is where I wanted to be.”

On wanting a change of scenery:

Mertz: “For sure, for sure. I mean, I started a lot of games, I think it was like 32 games at Wisconsin. Love that place, love those people. But yeah, I was at that point in my career where I needed a fresh start, and I was excited for that. So, it’s really refreshing to get down here and get going. I think that’s a good way of putting it.”

On his fit in Napier’s offense:

Mertz: “I love it, man. I love it. It’s freed me up to really just make everybody better, make the team better. Really spread the field out. In this offense, he sets it up to where you always have an answer. And that’s one thing that as a quarterback, you know you always have that answer, I mean that gives you true confidence. I’ve loved every day of practice. We’re seven in and wish we had another 50.”

On playing catch-up since enrolling:

“I think going through my position at Wisconsin, I came in as a young kid and matured through that process, and I learned a lot of kind of taking what guys do when they came into to grow and develop, and I tried to just do all that, kind of mash it all together. So for me, it’s simple. This position you got to know your stuff. Half the battle is just knowing it, but the other half is applying it. So for me, I wanted to know it through and through and be able to apply it day one of spring. There were long days, but I know it’ll be worth it.”

On the competition with Miller:

Mertz: “It’s been great. I mean, people always say competition is going against people, but I think that we’re pushing each other to be better, and that’s one thing that I appreciate. The time that he’s helped me out on just little playbook things that he kind of took in when he was learning it. So, our goal is to make this team as good as it can be. And we’re pushing each other each day to do that, so I’ve loved everything that he’s done. Everything that we do every day. We work together every day for hours. So, we’re doing it together and we’re doing it for this team, so I think that people always make these to be against each other, but it’s the furthest thing from that.”