Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz announced he’s transferring to Florida in an Instagram post Wednesday night. The Mission, Kansas, product started the last three seasons in Madison, Wisconsin.
Mertz started this past season for a struggling Wisconsin team that finished 6-6 and fired head coach Paul Chryst. The former top-100 recruit completed 57.3% of his passes for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns.
In his first start, Mertz completed 20 of 21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdowns, tying the single-game record for the Badgers. Mertz has thrown for 5,405 yards, 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in his three seasons in Camp Randall Stadium.
The former Badger signal caller is the second quarterback to join the Gators this offseason. Florida signee Jaden Rashada, the No. 56 player in the 247Sports composite rankings, will enroll in Gainesville in the spring and join the quarterback room alongside Mertz.
Rashada is the highest ranked player in the Gators’ 2023 recruiting class. He’s also the highest ranked quarterback to sign with Florida since Will Grier in 2014.
Mertz and Rashada will join redshirt freshman Jack Miller III and freshman Max Brown in the competition to become Florida’s new starting quarterback after redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Contact Topher Adams at tadams@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @Topher_Adams.
Topher Adams is a fourth-year communications major and in his fourth semester with the Alligator. He previously covered football, baseball and women's basketball. He also enjoys professional lacrosse and Major League Soccer.
