Florida Gators HC calls former Wisconsin QB 'one of the best in America'

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier called former Wisconsin Badgers QB Graham Mertz ‘one of the best quarterbacks in America’ at SEC media days this week.

Mertz is entering year two with the Gators after spending the first four years of his college career at Wisconsin. Badgers fans have tracked his career and progress closer than anybody after he initially joined the program as its highest-rated quarterback recruit of all time. That interest is only heightened with Napier making a comment like this one.

The veteran quarterback’s first year at Florida included a 72.9 completion percentage, 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The stats are impressive, though they came as the Gators went 5-7 and missed a bowl game.

2024 does not project to get much easier for Mertz and Napier’s team. Florida plays a gauntlet schedule that includes games against Miami, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State. It would do well to win six games, let alone come anywhere near the expanded College Football Playoff.

But that dynamic exists with Mertz having turned some heads last season. There appears to be optimism, whether universal or not, that he can play like one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC.

Wisconsin fans who watched him complete just 59.5 percent of his passes for 6.5 adjusted yards per attempt, 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions during his time in Madison may disagree with that sentiment.

The beauty of this situation and all others involving the sport: the games will kick off in five weeks and a clear answer will be given on the field.

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