Florida head coach again calls former Wisconsin QB ‘one of the best in the country’

Florida head coach Billy Napier is doubling down on his confidence in former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz entering the 2024 season.

Napier was recently asked about the potential for the Gators to run two-quarterback systems with the starter Mertz and five-star freshman D.J. Lagway. His response again labeled Mertz one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

Related: Where Wisconsin football players have ended up out of the transfer portal in 2024 offseason

“We have one of the best quarterbacks in the country on our team,” Napier said. He went on to clarify that the Gators have “been [Mertz’s] team since day one of the offseason.”

This high praise is nothing new from the Florida head coach. He called Mertz ‘one of the best quarterbacks in America’ back at SEC media days in July.

Billy Napier said that Graham Mertz is one of the best quarterbacks in the entire country during the SEC teleconference this morning.

“It’s been his team since day one of the offseason.”

— Nick Marcinko (@marcinko_nick) August 28, 2024

The praise follows Mertz’s solid-yet-unspectacular 2023 season with the Gators. He threw for 72.9% completion, 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and three interceptions as the Gators struggled to a 5-7 record.

Top options RB Trevor Etienne (transfer, Georgia) and WR Ricky Pearsall (NFL, San Francisco 49ers) are now both gone from last year. They together accounted for 1,952 scrimmage yards and 15 total touchdowns.

That will put more on Mertz’s shoulders in 2024, tasking him to carry the team against a brutal schedule that includes preseason No. 19 Miami, No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 15 Tennessee, No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 13 LSU, No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 10 Florida State.

If Napier’s sentiment is correct, then Mertz will elevate his game and help the Gators return to bowl eligibility.

I’m sure Badgers fans may have a different read on the situation.