JD PicKell: Breaking down why Florida didn’t pursue second transfer QB

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•05/10/23•

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Since arriving at Florida, Billy Napier has been active with quarterbacks in the NCAA transfer portal. Jack Miller and Graham Mertz have both been brought into the program. But after a questionable spring game, some thought the Gators would dip back in this past cycle.

Only two real options emerged, with Casey Thompson and Payton Thorne hitting the market. They wound up elsewhere and Florida will go into the 2023 season with Mertz and Miller. On3’s J.D. PicKell agrees with the decision, questioning if there is even that big of a talent gap between the four.

“They already went into the portal and got themselves Graham Mertz,” PicKell said. “They feel like if they went and got a Payton Thorne or Casey Thompson — are they really going to be better set up for success than Graham Mertz? Is it really a huge talent gap between those guys? Especially with Casey Thompson and Payton Thorne not getting spring practice?”

Thompson wound up with FAU and his old friend Tom Herman but did not go through spring practice with Nebraska. Thorne will play inside the SEC this season but will be with Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers. Both will be adapting to new systems while expecting to start in early September.

PicKell went on to use an analogy everyone is quite familiar with. While you may want to pick up some food when heading back, there is always something your parents view just as suitable. His point being — there was no clear upgrade available in the portal for Billy Napier, leaving them to enter fall with what they have.

“If I bring a really good lunch from home, I’m pretty excited about it,” PicKell began. “I’m not going to go out to eat. Now, if there was a five-star restaurant that I could go to or if there was an A+ option available in the portal at quarterback, then maybe this conversation changes a little bit.

“For Graham Mertz, I don’t think that he is substantially worse than Casey Thompson or Payton Thorne. I don’t think there is a huge talent gap. I don’t think Florida’s record changes if you go and add one of those guys vs. what you have with Graham Mertz or Jack Miller… So why didn’t they go into the portal? Wasn’t a real big upgrade to be had in the eyes of the staff and in my eyes as well.”