Former Wisconsin quarterback included in 2024 Maxwell Award watch list

Former Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz was included in the 2024 Maxwell Award watch list on Monday.

The honor recognizes the most outstanding player in college football each year. A panel of media members and NCAA head coaches deliberate on the winner — who is given the honor during the ESPN Home Depot College Awards Show in December.

Other notable quarterbacks to join Mertz as a nominee on the watch list included Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Georgia’s Carson Beck, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Missouri’s Brady Cook, Penn State’s Drew Allar and Texas’ Quinn Ewers.

Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pocketed the honor in 2023 after USC’s Caleb Williams took it home in 2022. A quarterback has won the Maxwell Award in seven of the last eight college football seasons.

Mertz, who started 32 games quarterback for the Badgers from 2020-22, enters his second season at the helm with the Florida Gators after registering 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns a season ago.

Even though the Gators went 5-7 in 2023, Mertz could make some national noise is games against Texas, LSU, Georgia and Florida State in a loaded SEC conference.

If the Gators, spearheaded by Mertz under center, could orchestrate a few upset victories, his stock would surely rise in regard to this type of recognition.