Graham Mertz named starting quarterback at Florida

Kentucky knew a trip to the transfer portal was needed after the 2022 season to find the program’s next starting quarterback. Before the Wildcats zoned in on NC State transfer Devin Leary, a Big Ten quarterback appeared to be a favorite early in the process.

Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz entered the transfer portal on Dec. 4 and immediately became a potential target for Kentucky. The Wildcats hosted the former top-100 recruit in the class of 2019 less than two weeks later for an official visit. However, Leary would commit to UK just days after this visit.

During that time, Florida also hosted Mertz for an official visit. That led to a commitment to the Gators on Dec. 21. The redshirt senior with two years of eligibility was a mid-year enrollee who participated in spring practice. Despite a performance in the spring game that was very much maligned on social media, Mertz entered fall camp as the favorite to win the QB1 job for second-year head coach Billy Napier. After Florida’s first fall camp scrimmage, the QB competition officially ended on Thursday.

“I think the big thing I’ve been impressed with is just his ability to come in and learn the system, translate what he knows and apply that to our system,” Napier said after naming Mertz the starter. “And then just, you know, relentless in approach. Probably’s worked as hard as any player on our team.”

Graham Mertz was a three-year starter at Wisconsin who threw for 5,405 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions during his career in Madison that included a different play-caller every season. The transfer will be looking to get a fresh start in Gainesville.

Kentucky will see Mertz in Week 5 when Napier makes his first trip to Kroger Field as Florida’s head coach. That game will be a battle of first-year transfer quarterbacks. Kentucky is hopeful that they made the right move by adding Leary before Florida settled in with Mertz.