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Billy Napier talks up Graham Mertz’ experience, shares offseason impressions of QB
By Keith Farner
Published:
Billy Napier first referred to Graham Mertz’ experience as the Wisconsin transfer looks to be Florida’s starting quarterback this season. Napier pointed out that Mertz has started 32 games and played more than 2,000 snaps in college football.
“I’ve been very impressed with Graham,” Napier said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. “We went through an extensive process to make that decision, and I think Graham’s an accomplished player. But more importantly, I’ve been impressed with the person, the leader. This guy has an incredible motor and work ethic. He is in the building and he is fanatical about his preparation. So I think that has helped the competition. I think it’s caused Jack (Miller) to respond.”
Mertz, who has 2 years of eligibility remaining, last season threw for 2,136 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2022, and averaged just 178.0 yards per game through the air. He had a 57.3% completion rate.
Napier also mentioned that Miller’s had a strong offseason, and Max Brown, another QB, has had a good summer.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
