What Graham Mertz told Billy Napier after being named starting QB
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators fans and media members tuned into Billy Napier’s press conference last Friday anticipating big news: Florida’s coach naming a starting quarterback. An announcement would come that day for Graham Mertz, but not from Napier at the podium.
Less than 24 hours removed from the team’s first scrimmage of fall camp, Napier had yet to inform the quarterbacks or players of his decision. That happened following his presser, as Napier met with Mertz and informed him that he had officially won the job.
The moment meant a lot to Mertz, a redshirt junior and three-year starter at Wisconsin who recognizes the expectations and spotlight that comes with being the quarterback for the Gators.
“The first thing I told him is that it’s an honor and a blessing and I’m going to treat it as such,” Mertz said Tuesday. “The history, you know, what this program has been, who has come through here, it’s my duty to respect that and honor that every day.
“The first thing I thought of was that it’s an honor and a blessing and you’ve gotta treat it as such. You’ve got to walk with that every single day. It was exciting (to be named the starter) but you get right back into the heat of fall camp. We’ve got work we need to do.”
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Mertz was named the starter with six practices left in fall camp. It will conclude this Friday will the final scrimmage before the team transitions to game prep for the season opener.
Mertz will make his first start for the Gators — and the 33rd of his career — on Aug. 31 against Utah. His focus until then is continuing to make strides as an offense in practice.
“I’m excited. I’m very excited about what this offense can be,” Mertz said. “I think just from the start of camp until now, we’ve made strides in taking care of the ball, being aggressive, taking what the defense is giving us and when we have the opportunity to strike, we will. I think big picture.
“So I think, ‘OK, what can I do as far as my job to help this offense just move the ball.’ I think that comes down to decision making, that comes down to taking care of the ball and being aggressive. I love the spot our offense is at, but we have a set amount of practices left before that first game. We can take strides, and we will take strides in all those areas.”
