Tag: Graham Mertz

Former Wisconsin quarterback leads one of ProFootballFocus top QB rooms entering 2024

Former Wisconsin quarterback leads one of ProFootballFocus top QB rooms entering 2024

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz leads the Florida Gators quarterback room to a No. 7 rating in ProFootballFocus’ QB room ranking entering 2024. Mertz is entering his second campaign in Gainesville, returning following a productive 2023 campaign.

The quarterback compiled 2,903 passing yards and 20 touchdowns over 11 games last season, excelling to put up career-best numbers across the board with the Gators. The 2024 campaign will be his sixth overall college campaign before he’ll likely look to go pro thereafter.

Also in the QB room will be freshman DJ Lagway, a former five-star and top overall quarterback in the class of 2024. It’s possible that if Mertz gets off to a slow start, Lagway could be the next in line.

In regards to the Badgers quarterbacks, graduate transfer Tyler Van Dyke (Miami-FL) and redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke are the two players in a position to start in 2024 in what will be the second season with Phil Longo’s air raid offense in Madison.

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Steve Spurrier offers thoughts on NIL, transfer portal

Steve Spurrier isn’t offering some back-in-my-day take when he says that college football recruiting needs more structure in the NIL era.

Former Florida head coach [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag] is not a fan of the modern recruiting structure, but it’s not for the reason you might think.

Spurrier knows that adapting is the only way to survive in the game, so he’s not outright rejecting the name, image and likeness game. Instead, he sees NIL as a new tool that needs to be tweaked. He’s more or less on the same page regarding the changes to the transfer portal over the past decade.

“They’ve (the NCAA) gotta do something about it. I think they’ve got to come up with a budget. The Power Five teams, you’ve got $30 million to spend. If you want to give it all to the quarterback, that’s your business, but put a limit and let them spread it out and go from there. It will help even out things a little bit as far as getting recruiting back into the game,” Spurrier said on 95.3 WDAE (Tampa).

“Right now it’s just about whoever is going to pay the most money. That’s not the way it should be, and actually, those teams that pay the most money don’t win all the time anyway. I think Texas A&M, Miami and Southern Cal have been three of the biggest spenders here in the last couple of years or so but they have not won big.

“You still gotta have good attitude, good teamwork and players playing for each other out there.”

Spurrier also offered a prediction for Florida’s upcoming season.

“Everybody feels like we’ve got a better team this year. We’ve picked up some guys. Of course, we’ve lost some guys. But again, if we get off to a really good start — we open up with Miami, I think at 3:30 on August 31 there. If we get off to a good start, build some confidence, [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] is ready to go and (DJ) Lagway — the backup kid — he’s a talented player.”

“We’re in good shape at quarterback, hopefully, our defense will be much improved. We can get off to a good start, have a winning season and win a bowl game, that’s what I’m predicting. Winning season and win a bowl game and start heading in the right direction.”

Florida faces what might be the toughest schedule in college football next year, so a winning season would be huge for [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] in Year 3, especially after two losing seasons.

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Former Wisconsin transfer WR target commits to play with…Graham Mertz

Former Wisconsin transfer target commits to play with….Graham Mertz

Former Wisconsin transfer portal target wide receiver Elijhah Badger committed to Florida on Friday.

Wisconsin had been one of numerous schools to express interest in the former Arizona State wide receiver after he entered the transfer portal last month. The Badgers then landed Boston College WR Joseph Griffin Jr., likely taking them out of the running for other transfer receivers.

Related: Ranking every game on Wisconsin’s 2024 schedule from easiest to toughest

Badger chose the Gators over other Arizona and Washington.

Notably, the wide receiver commits to play with former Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz, who transferred to Florida ahead of the 2023 season and returns to start under center in 2024.

The talented wideout was heralded as one of the best receivers of this transfer cycle. He was one of Arizona State’s top receiving options in both 2022 and 2023, totaling 135 catches for 1,599 yards and 10 touchdowns in that time.

Related: Wisconsin updated 2024 offense depth chart after addition of WR Joseph Griffin Jr.

He joins Mertz on a Florida team that is in need of a statement campaign under head coach Billy Napier. The Gators went 6-7 and 5-7 respectively in 2022 and 2023. The SEC landscape is not getting easier, and Florida needs to reestablish itself toward the top of the conference.

Wisconsin landed three transfers during the spring portal window: Vanderbilt offensive lineman Leyton Nelson, Illinois offensive lineman Joey Okla and Griffin.

The program is still in search of help along the defensive line as the final portal entrants find new destinations.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

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EA Sports College Football 25 release date, cover stars unveiled

A few Gators were included in the College Football 25 video game reveal.

One of the most anticipated video games of 2024 finally has a release date after years of waiting for the newest installment of a once-popular football franchise.

EA Sports College Football 25 will be released worldwide on July 19, and history will be made with active college football players on the cover of the game for the first time ever.

Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter, Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers and Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards will be the cover stars of the game, EA Sports told USA TODAY Sports. The trio will be on both the standard and deluxe editions of the game.

Gators Online’s Nick de la Torre noticed that current Florida Gators [autotag]Tyreak Sapp[/autotag], [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag], [autotag]Grayson Howard[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] were all included among the throng of college football players featured in the reveal. It also looks like Derek Wingo is on the left halfway out of frame.

EA Sports’ video game franchise, which began in 1993, has had players on its cover for the majority of its versions. But when previous versions of the NCAA Football game had players on its cover, they were in their college gear but had already left the college ranks by the time the game came out.

Hunter, Ewers and Edwards are three of more than 10,000 college football players expected to be in the game, according to EA Sports. Player likeness without compensation was the reason why the NCAA Football franchise folded in 2013 and why a college football video game hasn’t been released since then. But with name, image and likeness running rampant in college sports, EA Sports will compensate players in exchange for their likeness with $600 and a free copy of the game.

All the cover stars told reporters it was surreal when they learned the details.

“They’re gonna remember all three of us because we were the first guys on the cover to kind of bring it back,” Ewers said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to be on the cover of the game.”

EA Sports College Football 25 details

EA Sports College Football 25 will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Standard and deluxe editions of EA Sports College Football 25 are available for pre-order. EA Sports is also offering the MVP bundle, which includes the deluxe editions of EA SPORTS College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25. Prices for the versions are:

  • Standard edition: $69.99
  • Deluxe edition: $99.99
  • MVP bundle: $149.99

Purchase of any version of the game includes an alma mater ultimate team pack, cover athletes ultimate team pack and bring glory home ultimate team pack. The deluxe version and MVP bundle will come with three-day early access for both games and “a variety of other benefits,” including 4,600 college football points − presumably in-game currency − and a Heisman hopeful ultimate team pack.

The full reveal, which typically includes a trailer of the game, will be Friday. EA Sports said more details will be unveiled “throughout the summer” leading up to the release date.

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The Athletic looks at Florida in its SEC quarterback carousel

Basically, there is plenty of headroom for improvement but expectations will nonetheless be high in 2024.

The quarterback is unquestionably the most important position in football. As such, it should come as no surprise that a team’s success hinges on the talents of their primary passer. For Florida, the position has been less-than-steady the past couple of seasons but the staff have worked hard to bolster a once-weak corps.

As of now, the Gators’ quarterback room is headlined by incumbent starter [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] followed by former five-star recruit [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] — the latter representing the future face of Florida. [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] have departed but the Orange and Blue also added [autotag]Clay Millen[/autotag] through the transfer portal to bolster the bunch.

The Athletic’s Manny Navarro recently broke down where all 16 Southeastern Conference QB rooms stand at the sport’s most important position. Basically, there is plenty of headroom for improvement but expectations will nonetheless be high in 2024.

“[autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first two seasons in Gainesville have produced an 11-14 record, but don’t blame quarterback play for the Gators’ struggles” Navarro begins.

“[autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and Mertz, the 2023 Wisconsin transfer who replaced him, completed a league-best 72.9% of his passes and threw for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Mertz will begin the 2024 season as the most experienced starting quarterback in the SEC and will have the highest-ranked freshman quarterback in the league backing him up in Lagway.

As for the transfer portal addition, Navarro sees where he fits into the equation as well.

“Millen redshirted at Nevada in 2021 and then spent two seasons (with 11 starts) at Colorado State. He completed 72.2 percent of his attempts in 2022, which set a record for a freshman in the FBS. He makes up for the loss of Brown, who started the 2023 season finale against rival Florida State and transferred to Charlotte, as well as Miller, a 2020 four-star recruit who retired from football in January.”

Florida opens up its 2024 regular-season schedule in the Swamp against the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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Wisconsin misses final schools for former top transfer portal WR target Elijhah Badger

Wisconsin will not be landing the wide receiver with the last name ‘Badger’

Wisconsin missed the final three schools for top transfer portal wide receiver Elijhah Badger on Wednesday.

Badger will be choosing one of Arizona, Florida or Washington.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings, starting quarterback rankings

Wisconsin was in pursuit of the former Arizona State Sun Devil. The program then landed former Boston College WR Joseph Griffin Jr., fulfilling its need for an experienced receiver.

It is reasonable to assume that Wisconsin dropped out of the running for Badger after landing Griffin. That, or the program pursued Griffin with the knowledge it wouldn’t be in play for Badger.

Either way, one of Arizona, Florida or Washington will add the transfer portal’s top available wide receiver.

Badger entered the portal last month after four years at Arizona State. He was one of the Sun Devils’ top receiving options in 2022 and 2023, totaling 135 catches for 1,599 yards and 10 touchdowns in that time.

Wisconsin enters the 2024 season with Will Pauling, Bryson Green and C.J. Williams atop its wide receiver depth chart. Griffin Jr., Tyrell Henry and Trech Kekahuna make up a second group that is sure to also contribute heavily.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer portal activity this spring, check out our 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

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The Athletic reviews SEC’s most important moves of the offseason

Florida lost almost two dozen players from last year’s roster, but there are several newcomers in Gainesville ready to right the ship.

The transfer portal era has established a constant sense of change in the SEC as players move around and teams take on new identities year after year.

The end of spring practices coincides with the spring portal period, which is the last chance for players to switch schools before summer workouts begin — however, in-conference transfers are not permitted unlike during the winter. That rule was made by the SEC to discourage players from jumping around the conference at will and has slowed the pace of incoming players during spring.

So, the folks at The Athletic are diving into the most important roster moves made (and not made) by each team this offseason.

Best Additions/Worst Departure

Florida saw 23 players leave the team this offseason. The most impactful loss from the group is senior defensive end [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag], who was among the top edge rushers in the conference a year ago. Umanmielen will play his last year of college ball at Ole Miss, leaving a hole to fill in Florida’s front seven.

The Athletic makes a distinction between the most important overall newcomer and the most important spring addition, but it’s clear where the Gators needed the most help with both being offensive linemen.

San Diego State tackle [autotag]Brandon Crenshaw-Jackson[/autotag] should get the chance to start in Gainesville after taking the field for the Aztecs at kickoff 35 times and is the “best overall addition” to the team, according to The Athletic.

Freshman lineman Jason Zandamela is the best spring addition so far; although, Florida only has two spring transfer commitments. He’s young but the Gators need big bodies in the trenches after an ugly 2023 up front. Adding an interior lineman with four years of eligibility left can only help Florida’s O-line.

Best Returnee

Despite a heavy focus on the change going on across the conference, The Athletic made sure to highlight the most important returning player for each team. For Florida, it’s quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] who ended 2023 injured after an accurate and efficient season that didn’t result in wins.

Mertz did everything they said he couldn’t after leaving Wisconsin. He lowered his turnover ratio, finished the season with a completion percentage over 70 and led an SEC program. Now comfortable in his new digs, Mertz is the unquestioned leader of the Florida offense heading into 2024.

If Billy Napier has to turn the ball over to former five-star recruit [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag], Florida won’t come close to a winning season.

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Wisconsin transfer WR target Elijhah Badger visits program quarterbacked by Graham Mertz

Wisconsin transfer WR target Elijhah Badger visits program quarterbacked by Graham Mertz

Wisconsin top transfer portal wide receiver target Elijhah Badger is set to visit the Florida Gators, according to On3.

Florida was named as one of the numerous top programs in pursuit of Badger, along with Wisconsin. It is also the current home of former Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz, who returned to Gainesville for his sixth and final year of collegiate eligibility.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings

The top transfer wide receiver has now visited Washington, Arizona and Florida as his recruitment continues. He’s currently ranked as a four-star transfer, the No. 184 player in the portal and No. 36 wide receiver.

Badger entered the portal four years at Arizona State. He was one of the Sun Devils’ top receiving options during the last two seasons, totaling 135 catches for 1,599 yards and 10 touchdowns in that time.

Wisconsin is yet to land a visit with the highly-touted transfer. It’s easy to see how Florida, Washington and Arizona represent more attractive landing spots, as the Badgers have a strong top group at wide receiver and would deploy Badger as part of a rotation.

The wide receiver’s last name makes this a situation worth following, especially if he spends the 2024 season catching passes from Mertz.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer portal activity this spring, check out our 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Top photos from QB Graham Mertz’s 2023 Florida football campaign

Take a look at the best photos from Graham Mertz’ 2023 campaign with the Florida Gators.

Florida football brought Wisconsin Badgers transfer quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] to Gainesville for the 2023 campaign after losing its star signal-caller, Anthony Richardson, to the NFL draft. The decision was a solid one for the redshirt junior as he was among the nation’s best in pass completion percentage, though he did leave a lot to be desired on downfield plays.

Mertz’s season ended abruptly against the Missouri Tigers with a broken collarbone that shelved him for the following game against the Florida State Seminoles. Still, he managed to complete 261 of his 358 pass attempts (72.9%), tossing 20 touchdowns against three interceptions with an average of 263.9 passing yards over 11 starts.

He is returning for his final season of eligibility in 2024 when he will be the program’s incumbent starter.

Florida’s starting QB among CBS Sports’ top 100 players in 2024

Graham Mertz is one of the 100-best players in college football this coming season, per CBS Sports.

The spring practice season is over for Florida football and the last couple of months, while still very early on in the process, has given the fans and the media a better idea of where the Gators are going this coming fall.

CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer took some time before the transfer portal opened on Monday to rank his top 100 college football players for the upcoming 2024 campaign. Somewhat surprisingly, he included incumbent starting quarterback Graham Mertz among his best, coming in at No. 86.

“Yep. I’m a believer in Mertz,” Brockermeyer begins. “Don’t forget he profiled as an elite prospect out of high school. A change of scenery, from Madison to Gainesville, did him well in 2023. He was consistent, completing 73% of his passes for the season for 2,900 yards, and took care of the football, throwing just three picks.

“Florida has an unbelievably difficult schedule ahead and Mertz’s favorite target Ricky Pearsall is off to the NFL. Mertz can really silence the doubters if he delivers a good season in what will be choppy waters.”

The Gators kick off their 2024 regular-season schedule on Aug. 31 against the Miami Hurricanes inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida opens its SEC schedule with the Texas A&M Aggies arriving in the Swamp on Sept. 14.

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