Graham Mertz named to Maxwell Award watchlist
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida starting quarterback Graham Mertz was named to the Maxwell Award preseason watchlist on Monday. Mertz was one of 80 players across the country added to the preseason watchlist.
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the “best player in college football.” It is named after Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a Swarthmore College football player, coach, and sportswriter. The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 by his friend, Bert Bell, to present awards in his name to promote football safety. The award was first presented in 1937.
Mertz is entering his sixth season of college football and his second with the Florida Gators. The veteran quarterback set career-highs in passing yards (2,903) and touchdowns (20) during his first season with the Gators. He chose to return for his final season of eligibility in 2024. Florida head coach Billy Napier spoke about what that meant to the Gators.
“I think there’s a certain level of confidence. I think he’s earned the respect of the players. He’s earned the respect of the staff. You think about his journey last year, he shows up, a lot of unknowns, a lot of doubts, a lot of what’s his role on the team going to be? Has no relationships with hardly anybody in the building,” Billy Napier said before SEC Media Days.
“I just think he started in a different place. It’s like a rookie in the NFL or a free agent that goes to a new team and now he’s in Year two. He earned the respect of his teammates on the field last year with his grit, his toughness, the way he competed, his production. He starts as the leader of the team. It’s his team. He’s doing a phenomenal job of leading from the front. This guy, he’s pushing this team personally. He came back with a purpose, and I think that’s been evident just watching him.”
The Florida Gators will kick off the 2024 season against the rival Miami Hurricanes at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on August 31. Mertz and the Gators will are set to open fall camp in preparation for that game on Tuesday, July 30.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier walks during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/18141240/Untitled-design-72-2.png)
