GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Quarterback
Graham Mertz has unfinished business with the Gators.
The fourth-year junior announced Thursday that he is returning in 2024 for a second season at Florida.
A transfer from Wisconsin, Mertz
became a team leader and one of UF's top players this past season, throwing for a career-high 2,903 yards. Mertz led the Southeastern Conference by completing 72.9 percent of his passes (261 of 358) with a career-high 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
The return of Mertz provides veteran leadership and a proven player at the game's most important position. Mertz arrived at Florida in January from Wisconsin, where his career had stalled and the Badgers ushered in a new coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Florida head coach
Billy Napier needed a quarterback following
Anthony Richardson's early entry into the NFL Draft. Mertz's addition was a bright spot for the 5-7 Gators until he was lost for the season due to injury in a 33-31 loss at Missouri 12 days ago. Mertz watched Florida's regular-season finale against Florida State from the sideline.
Mertz suffered a nondisplaced collarbone fracture against Missouri while bulldozing a pair of Tigers on the way to an 11-yard run for a first down. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready by the start of next season.
"If Gator Nation doesn't respect
Graham Mertz after watching him compete this year, then we've got a problem,'' Napier said following the game. "This kid has been everything that you would want."
Mertz has started 43 games over the past four seasons. He has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 8,308 yards, 58 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
Mertz, who is from Overland Park, Kansas, signed with Wisconsin in 2020 as the No. 3-ranked pro-style quarterback in the country behind
Spencer Rattler and
Ryan Hilinski according to the
247Sports.com composite database.
Mertz threw for a career-high 333 yards in his UF debut, a 24-11 loss at Utah in the season opener. He eclipsed that mark with a 423-yard, three-touchdown performance on Oct. 14 at South Carolina in Florida's 41-39 comeback win.
Mertz's return eases any concerns over the announcement Tuesday from backup
Max Brown that he plans to enter the transfer portal. Brown started in place of Mertz in Saturday's 24-15 loss to fifth-ranked Florida State.
Scott has been a senior writer for the Florida Gators since 2010.
