Mertz Earns Spot on Manning Award Watch List
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | Football
The Gators’ senior quarterback adds to his collection of preseason honors.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Quarterback Graham Mertz has earned a selection to the 2024 Manning Award Preseason Watch List, presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Manning Award aims to honor the top college quarterback following bowl games. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' postseason performances in its balloting.
In his first year in Gainesville, Mertz became a team leader and one of UF's top players in 2023, 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.
Mertz adds the Manning Award to a collection of three preseason honors, including the Wuerffel Trophy and Maxwell Award watch lists.
The Southeastern Conference boasts six nominees on this year's preseason list, tied for the most of any conference, priming them for a potential tenth Manning award winner, the most of any league in the award's 21 year history.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
The winner will be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the postseason.
2024 FLORIDA FOOTBALL TICKETS
Fans can now reserve their seats in The Swamp for the 2024 season, featuring seven home games with matchups against Miami, UCF, LSU, Ole Miss and more. Season ticket packages are available starting at only $480 per ticket, plus a required Booster contribution based on seating area. Season ticket holders enjoy great perks such as an annual gift, priority access to Florida-Georgia game tickets, away games tickets, postseason tickets, and more.
Click here to buy season tickets, call the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or fill out this form to be contacted by a ticket office representative. Single-game tickets are also on sale now by clicking here.
In his first year in Gainesville, Mertz became a team leader and one of UF's top players in 2023, 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.
Mertz adds the Manning Award to a collection of three preseason honors, including the Wuerffel Trophy and Maxwell Award watch lists.
The Southeastern Conference boasts six nominees on this year's preseason list, tied for the most of any conference, priming them for a potential tenth Manning award winner, the most of any league in the award's 21 year history.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
The winner will be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the postseason.
2024 FLORIDA FOOTBALL TICKETS
Fans can now reserve their seats in The Swamp for the 2024 season, featuring seven home games with matchups against Miami, UCF, LSU, Ole Miss and more. Season ticket packages are available starting at only $480 per ticket, plus a required Booster contribution based on seating area. Season ticket holders enjoy great perks such as an annual gift, priority access to Florida-Georgia game tickets, away games tickets, postseason tickets, and more.
Click here to buy season tickets, call the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or fill out this form to be contacted by a ticket office representative. Single-game tickets are also on sale now by clicking here.
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