Florida QB: “Gators fans will love what they see”

The Florida Gators are coming off a 5-7 season and head coach Billy Napier has an 11-14 record after two seasons. Although the results have not been inspiring, super-super senior quarterback Graham Mertz believes change could be imminent for the Gators.

“I think Gator fans are going to like what they see,” Mertz said recently at the Manning Passing Academy (h/t On3). “I mean, I think we have depth. We’ve brought in a lot of new guys on both sides of the ball. Experienced guys. But overall, the depth we have is different than last year.”

Depth is certainly key, especially in a conference like the SEC. Consider that Texas and Oklahoma have joined the already-crowded conference and that Florida’s 2024 schedule calls for the Longhorns in early November.

In fact, Florida’s schedule looks pretty challenging, with Miami in Week 1, Texas A&M in Week 3 and road games at Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas and Florida State. The Gators also play Kirby Smart and the always dangerous Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 2 at “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”

That’s a tough schedule, and only half of it was mentioned. Mertz doesn’t seem worried about it, though.

“I’m always optimistic about every season, but I think we have a special team,” he said.

Last season was Mertz’s first at Florida after spending four at Wisconsin. He took a redshirt year in 2019 and got an extra year in 2020 because of the pandemic, so he enters the 2024 season with five years of college football experience already under his belt.

Last season, he threw for 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He’s expected to be one of the nation’s best quarterbacks this season, so it will be interesting to see if the Gators can justify his confidence.