Gators officially sign Wisconsin QB transfer Graham Mertz
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators have officially signed Wisconsin quarterback transfer Graham Mertz, the school announced on Wednesday.
Florida is getting a three-year starter in Mertz, who made 32 starts for the Badgers and totaled 2,075 career snaps. He finished the 2022 regular season with a career-high 2,136 passing yards and a 57 percent completion rate (164 of 286).
Mertz joins the football program in January to battle with UF quarterback Jack Miller III, who made his first career start in the Las Vegas Bowl. Top-100 QB signee Jaden Rashada is also expected to compete for the job as an early enrollee, and redshirt freshman Max Brown rounds out the room.
After throwing 10 scores and 11 picks in 2021, Mertz improved his touchdown-interception ratio this fall with 19 TDs against 10 INTs. 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.
Mertz finished the 2021 season with 1,958 passing yards and took over as QB1 in 2020, throwing for 1,283 yards with nine TDs and five picks. The 6-foot-2, 219-pound Mertz logged 5,405 passing yards and 38 touchdowns in 34 games with the Badgers and has two years left of eligibility left.
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Following the addition of Rashada on signing day, Florida coach Billy Napier indicated that he would add a transfer to the quarterback room. The Gators have also landed preferred walk-on QB Parker Leise for 2023.
“There’s no question we anticipate adding a player in that room through the portal,” Napier said prior to the addition of Mertz from the portal. “We like to definitely have four scholarship players. We do intend to add a preferred walk-on as well in that room to give us five players for the spring and next year, and really feel good about that situation.
“So, all those guys will be able to be here for the entire offseason program, which will be a big deal. But definitely anticipate taking another player.”
