Orlando Sentinel - Mertz’s return allows Gators to rest easier
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GAINESVILLE — Florida quarterback Graham Mertz spent his 23rd birthday sporting a sling on his left arm and discussing a decision that just felt right.
Mertz has experienced plenty of restless nights since a broken collarbone ended his season Nov. 18 during a narrow loss at No. 9 Missouri and now prevents him from comfortably lying down.
“I just sleep straight up,” he said Wednesday. “You see these bags under my eyes.”
At least the Gators can rest a little easier since Mertz decided to return for a sixth college season.
Coach Billy Napier enters a pivotal offseason facing plenty of questions but got the answer he wanted at the most important position.
“You grow up your whole life playing this game wanting to go to the NFL, and I had the choice between the two,” Mertz said. “Them taking the step and making the choice and getting me here, it was everything for me.”
The native of Kansas returned the favor, setting a single-season school record with an SEC-leading 72.9% completion rate while throwing 20 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions in 11 games.
The veteran of 43 starts, including 32 at Wisconsin prior to his December 2022 transfer, now looks to build on his best stretch as a collegian and help the Gators rebound from a 5-7 finish.
“The season didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” he said. “A lot of stuff left on the table and I want to win.”
Mertz expects to be healthy for spring practices as the Gators push to end a string of three consecutive losing seasons, the past two under Napier — now 11-14 at UF.
UF will feature plenty of new faces — on the field and the sideline.
Two defensive assistants were let go two days after a season-ending loss to Florida State. Any potential changes to the team’s offensive staff or Napier’s role as play-caller despite his attack’s inconsistency would be news to Mertz.
“Really any coaching hirings, firings, that’s above me,” he said.
Mertz will stick to what he knows.
Leading receiver Ricky Pearsall is moving on to the NFL after he and Mertz connected 63 times for 941 yards and 4 scores, including a game-winner during the final minute at South Carolina. Sophomore starter Caleb Douglas entered the transfer portal after he missed seven games with a broken leg suffered during a blowout loss at Kentucky.
Among a trio of promising freshmen, Eugene Wilson III stood out with 61 receptions for 538 yards and a team-leading 6 touchdown catches. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore and former walk-on Khaleil Jackson surprised, starting nine games, and redshirt freshman tight ends Arlis Boardingham and Hayden Hansen emerged, combining for 6 scores.
“This isn’t my first time starting over in an offseason,” Mertz said. “This is the fun part of the game. You see new guys emerge. You see guys grow, get better. You do it together.
“At this point last year I was learning it from scratch.”
Mertz arrived last January to more handwringing than fanfare after four uneven years at Wisconsin, where he was 19-13 as a starter while completing 59.5% of his passes for 4,405 yards with 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
Despite a modest resumé, he seized a leadership role and soon exceeded expectations.
The penultimate play of his first season at Florida epitomized Mertz’s determined approach. Facing third-and-5 with UF trailing 30-21, he ran 11 yards after steamrollering two tacklers before another pair stopped Mertz in his tracks and fractured his clavicle.
“I knew I had to get a first down, and that was kind of what was on my mind,” he recalled Wednesday.
As Mertz continues to heal, he will dissect 2023.
“I’m going to do is go back and watch all the practice reps from spring ball to fall camp to the season and really try to narrow it down on what the improvement plan is,” he said. “That’s the fun part of January.”
Without question, Mertz already seeks to improve the Gators’ vertical passing game, a target of outside criticism throughout the season. After all, UF’s 14 completions of 30 yards or longer were more than just one SEC team, Mississippi State.
“One thing I want to do a better job at is throwing the ball down the field and making explosive plays,” he said.
Better play up front would help. Mertz absorbed 31 sacks, including at least 3 in eight games, but isn’t about to point fingers.
“Across the board we would all say we’ve gotta get better,” he said. “That’s the players’ job.”
Winning games falls on Napier, who will enter Year 3 feeling the heat. Mertz aims to help lower the temperature on the coach who took a chance on him.
“I owe this place and him my best,” Mertz said.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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