GRAHAM MERTZ NEWS

Injured Florida QB Graham Mertz ready to be mentor, motivator and cheerleader for DJ Lagway

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz has a new role for the remainder of the season: Coach

OCTOBER 16 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Graham Mertz got lucky with Florida football, and Florida football got lucky with Graham Mertz Few believed in Graham Mertz when he arrived at UF. Now that an injury has ended his career, everybody appreciates what he did for Florida f...

OCTOBER 16 • JACKSONVILLE.COM

Graham Mertz injury update: Florida football QB out for season with torn ACL Florida football QB Graham Mertz is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in a non-contact injury against Tennessee on Saturday.

OCTOBER 14 • JACKSONVILLE.COM

Florida QB Graham Mertz's season and his college career are over because of a knee injury

Florida coach Billy Napier says quarterback Graham Mertz will miss the remainder of the season because of a knee injury

OCTOBER 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Report: Gators QB Graham Mertz (knee) done for season Florida starting quarterback Graham Mertz’s season is over after sustaining a knee injury in Saturday’s loss to No.11 Tennessee, CBS Sports...

OCTOBER 14 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Expected to miss remainder of 2024 Mertz is expected to miss the remainder of Florida's 2024 season, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reports.

Impact Mertz will finish 2024 with a 76.6 completion percentage for 791 passing yards and a 6:2 TD:INT ratio. He also logged 18 carries for 56 yards and a rushing TD.

OCTOBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Will undergo MRI Mertz (lower leg) will undergo an MRI on Sunday, Pete Nakos of On3.com reports.

Impact Mertz suffered his lower-leg injury while throwing a touchdown pass to Arlis Boardingham during Florida's game Saturday at Tennessee. He also logged 11 completions for 125 yards there.

OCTOBER 13 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers non-contact injury Mertz suffered a non-contact injury in his left knee and won't return to Saturday's game at Tennessee, Adam Silverstein of OnlyGators.com reports.

Impact Non-contact injuries are never good, and further tests will have to determine the severity of the injury. DJ Lagway is expected to step in under center with Mertz likely to miss time.

OCTOBER 12 • ROTOWIRE

Tennessee linebacker breaks down Florida QBs Graham Mertz, DJ Lagway Linebacker Arion Carter and the Vols face Florida on Oct. 12.

OCTOBER 10 • TENNESSEAN.COM

Tosses touchdown in triumph Mertz was 19-for-23 passing for 179 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 24-13 win over UCF.

Impact Mertz now has five touchdown passes in his last three games played for the Gators, though has yet to throw for more than 201 yards in any contest thus far in 2024. He will have a tough task next weekend at Tennessee, with the Vols likely enraged following a stunning loss to unranked Arkansas.

OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Graham Mertz, Montrell Johnson account for scores as Florida beats UCF 24-13 in the Swamp

Graham Mertz threw a touchdown pass, Montrell Johnson ran for a score and Florida held on to beat UCF 24-13 in the Swamp

OCTOBER 6 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Four touchdowns in triumph Mertz was 19-for-21 passing for 201 yards and three touchdowns during Saturday's 45-28 win against Mississippi State. He also had three rushes for 24 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Mertz finally looked like himself after battling concussion-like symptoms earlier this season, scoring a season-high four times en route to Florida's second win of the season. The Gators have a bye next weekend before facing UCF.

SEPTEMBER 22 • ROTOWIRE

Mertz passes for 3 scores and runs for another to help Florida beat Mississippi State 45-28

Graham Mertz passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another to lead Florida over Mississippi State 45-28 on Saturday

SEPTEMBER 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Desperate Gators win at Mississippi State behind QBs Graham Mertz, DJ Lagway Saturday’s 45-28 victory at hapless Mississippi State wasn’t a cakewalk, won’t quell the conversation about coach Billy Napier’s future or p...

SEPTEMBER 21 • ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM

Splits time under center Mertz was 12-for-15 passing for 195 yards, one touchdown and one interception during Saturday's 33-20 defeat to Texas A&M.

Impact Mertz and DJ Lagway alternated series, and neither quarterback was particularly effective. SEC play continues at Mississippi State next weekend, and it could be a long, dreary season for the Florida offense.

SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Everyone Saying Same Thing About Florida QB Graham Mertz After Getting Pulled vs. Texas A&M Gators Turned to Backup Quarterback DJ Lagway Amid Blowout.

SEPTEMBER 14 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Everyone Saying Same Thing About Florida QB Graham Mertz After Getting Pulled vs. Texas A&M Gators Turned to Backup Quarterback DJ Lagway Amid Blowout.

SEPTEMBER 14 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Set to start Saturday Mertz is in line to start Thursday's game versus Texas A&M, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact After sustaining a concussion in Week 1 and subsequently missing Week 2, Mertz is healthy and starting the SEC opener versus Texas A&M. DJ Lagway, who played well in Mertz' absence, is still expected to see some playing time.

SEPTEMBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Billy Napier's first QB duel wasn't DJ Lagway, Graham Mertz at Florida It was at Louisiana in 2018. Here’s why it matters this weekend.

SEPTEMBER 13 • TAMPABAY.COM

Off injury report Mertz (concussion) is not listed on the injury report for Saturday's game against Texas A&M.

Impact Mertz was back at practice Wednesday and has now been removed from the injury reports, indicating he as cleared the concussion protocol and should be ready to go for this week's contest. The senior quarterback has been splitting reps with freshman DJ Lagway, who started in his absence, which means the team could be planning to have both signal-callers ready to step in. More news regarding the starter should surface in the upcoming days.

SEPTEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Back at practice Mertz (concussion) is back practicing with the Gators ahead of their Week 3 tilt with Texas A&M, Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun reports.

Impact Mertz missed Florida's Week 2 tilt with Stanford, and that opened the door for the true freshman DJ Lagway to log his first career start. He played very well albeit against a significant underdog, tossing for 456 yards and three scores. Now, however, Mertz appears ready to roll for Florida once again. The Wisconsin transfer struggled in the opener against Miami, but he's reportedly splitting first team reps with Lagway in practice. It's looking like Florida will have both signal-callers at its disposal this week, and the question now becomes who does it elect to start?

SEPTEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

UF's Billy Napier weighs how to handle Gators two QBs DJ Lagway, Graham Mertz Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

SEPTEMBER 9 • ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM

Expected to be available Saturday Mertz (concussion) is expected to be available for Florida's game Saturday against Texas A&M, Matt Baker of The Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Monday will be Mertz's last day of concussion protocol before he is done with it. According to Jacob Rudner of 247Sports, Mertz is Florida's starting quarterback, so the Gators could maximize his usage upon his immediate availability, though reserve DJ Lagway is expected to be used as well.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to be available Saturday Mertz (concussion) is expected to be available for Florida's game Saturday against Texas A&M, Matt Baker of The Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Monday will be Mertz's last day of concussion protocol before he is done with it. According to Jacob Rudner of 247Sports, Mertz is Florida's starting quarterback, so the Gators could maximize his usage upon his immediate availability, though reserve DJ Lagway is expected to be used as well.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Able to lift Thursday Mertz (concussion) was able to lift Thursday, InsideTheGators.com reports.

Impact Head coach Billy Napier said the team is considering having Mertz in the press box during Saturday's game with DJ Lagway already being named the starter. Although he will miss Saturday's game, Mertz's progress in concussion protocol is promising and he could be able to return for the SEC opener versus Texas A&M on Sept. 14.

SEPTEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE