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Former Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz reportedly transferring to Florida

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Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
Graham Mertz started 32 games at Wisconsin but entered the transfer portal after the Badgers hired Luke Fickell as the new coach.
Graham Mertz started 32 games at Wisconsin but entered the transfer portal after the Badgers hired Luke Fickell as the new coach.

MADISON – Quarterback Graham Mertz apparently is headed to the Southeastern Conference.

Mertz, who announced on Dec. 4 that he planned to transfer from Wisconsin, reportedly has committed to play for Florida.

The Gators finished 3-5 in the SEC East and 6-7 overall this season under first-year coach Billy Napier.

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Redshirt sophomore Anthony Richardson, the Gators’ No. 1 quarterback this season, has declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

Richardson completed only 53.8% of his passes for an average of 212.4 yards per game, with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Backup Jalen Kitna played in four games and completed 10 of 14 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. However, he was dismissed from the team and banned from campus after being arrested and charged with child exploitation and possession of child pornography.

Mertz started 32 games at UW, under three offensive coordinators – Paul Chryst, Joe Rudolph and Bobby Engram.

Engram had not coached quarterbacks before this season and Mertz is headed to a Florida team without a dedicated quarterbacks coach.

Offensive coordinator Rob Sale oversees the line. Napier, however, has been a quarterbacks coach at Clemson, Colorado State and Arizona State.

Mertz left UW with 5,405 passing yards and 38 touchdowns but also 26 interceptions.

He entered the season having completed 60.8% of his attempts for 3,756 yards, with 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

His completion rate this season slipped to 57.3% but he has passed for 2,130 yards, with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

However, in the last four games of the season he completed just 45 of 98 attempts (45.9%) for 506 yards, with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz reportedly transferring to Florida