Graham Mertz prepares to deliver a pass in last week's win over Charlotte. (Photo: Molly Kaiser/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Graham Mertz vs. Transfer Portal QBs
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators quarterback Graham Mertz is in a different place recently.
Consider the last few days.
First, Mertz's dating life hit the internet with a New York Post story, and then Joe Exotic, the star of the Netflix documentary "Tiger King," crowned Mertz the Tiger King of Florida in a public feud with Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis.
The internet always delivers. Sort of like Mertz's right arm since he joined the Gators.
Mertz enters Saturday's game at undefeated Kentucky completing 77.8 percent of his passes, which leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks fifth nationally. Mertz was 20 of 23 for 259 yards and a touchdown in last week's victory over Charlotte, which helped the Gators win their third consecutive game and move up to No. 22 in the AP Top 25.
Mertz kept the offbeat vibes alive when asked this week about his high completion percentage.
"I always talk about getting in the flow," Mertz said. "I don't know why I got a flash of the Elf movie: 'You ain't in the flow. You've got to get out of the flow.' I don't know why that popped in my head.
"I think it's a flow thing." Graham Mertz has shown a steady hand and toughness since joining the Gators. (Photo: Gabby Whisler/UAA Communications)
Any time a quarterback can use "Elf" to answer a question, that's a completion every time.
Former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow summed up what Mertz is doing on SEC Nation in a more traditional style.
"His poise and his ability to maneuver on third downs and just make some plays, he's doing what Florida needs him to do, taking care of the football, converting on third down, and being smart,'' Tebow said.
A transfer from Wisconsin, Mertz threw for a career-high 333 yards in his UF debut, a 24-11 loss at Utah in the season opener. Mertz has been steady and accurate and has shown exemplary leadership. These qualities drew the attention of Kentucky coach Mark Stoops and Florida's Billy Napierwhen Mertz entered the transfer portal following last season.
Mertz visited Kentucky in December, four days after Devin Leary, the former NC State quarterback who is now Kentucky's starter.
Stoops was asked about Mertz's performance in his first four games with the Gators.
"He's been very efficient, very smart getting rid of the football and taking care of the ball," Stoops said. "In running their offense, he's been very efficient. He's playing very well."
Napier agrees, praising Mertz on Monday for his impact. Florida's three-game win streak is its first in three seasons.
The Gators will try to make it four in a row on Saturday at Kroger Field. They will need to be the Wildcats for the first time since 2020.
"Graham has made our team better," Napier said. "He's playing at a high level. If you charted the incompletions, some of those are bad design, and some of those are drops — or maybe he's throwing it away because of the rush.
"I see a guy who's having fun playing football. He's voiced that to me. He's just in the moment."
Here is a look at how Mertz compares early in the season to the top 10 according to On3 and former UF quarterback Emory Jones, who was ranked five spots ahead of Mertz.
