All articles tagged with #graham mertz
The Florida Gators' spring game showcased the strengths of quarterbacks Graham Mertz and five-star freshman DJ Lagway, with Lagway displaying promise despite some inconsistencies. Receiver Tre Wilson impressed with a standout performance, while the defense showed signs of improvement with new names making impactful plays. The Gators' backfield also demonstrated depth and potential, despite the loss of Trevor Etienne.
The Florida Gators held their annual Orange and Blue spring game, with Team Orange winning 17-16 over Team Blue. DJ Lagway led Team Orange with two touchdowns, while Graham Mertz impressed for Team Blue with over 100 yards passing and a touchdown connection with Tre Wilson. Trey Smack contributed significantly to the scoring with field goals for both teams.
Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a nondisplaced collarbone fracture in their loss to Missouri, likely causing him to miss the regular-season finale and a potential bowl game. Redshirt freshman Max Brown replaced Mertz and showed promise, but the Gators ultimately fell short. The upcoming rivalry game against Florida State may now feature backup quarterbacks for both teams, as FSU's Jordan Travis also suffered a significant leg injury.
Graham Mertz of Florida was named Offensive Player of the Week in the SEC for his career-high passing performance, while Darius Robinson of Missouri earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. Trey Smack of Florida and Dee Williams of Tennessee were named Co-Special Teams Players of the Week. JC Latham of Alabama was recognized as Offensive Lineman of the Week, and James Pearce Jr. of Tennessee and Landon Jackson of Arkansas were named Co-Defensive Linemen of the Week. Peyton Woodring of Georgia was named Freshman of the Week.
A brawl broke out at the end of the SEC game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers after Florida's quarterback took a knee to secure their win. Tennessee's defensive lineman, Omari Thomas, made contact with the quarterback, leading to confrontations between players from both teams. The incident resulted in penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and targeting. The Gators won the game 29-16, extending Tennessee's losing streak in The Swamp to 10 games.
Florida coach Billy Napier has named Graham Mertz, a transfer from Wisconsin, as the starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Mertz's experience and work ethic impressed Napier, beating out fellow transfer Jack Miller III for the starting role. Mertz's highlight is his battle-tested experience, having started every regular season game for Wisconsin over the past three years. However, his struggle with turnovers and relatively low passing yards per game are areas for improvement. Florida's season opener will be a challenging road game against Utah, the reigning Pac-12 champion.