Mertz and UF hope a change of scenery does wonders at QB

After spending his previous 22 winters in the cold of Kansas and Wisconsin, Graham Mertz has an instant answer when asked how he’s benefiting from a move to Florida.

“Tan lines,” he said. “I’m just refreshed, man. I wake up every day with just joy to have a fresh start.”

On that note, he and Wisconsin football fans can relate. Mertz is happy he’s in sunny Gainesville, and so are they.

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They hailed him as the savior of the program and are disappointed with the results. When Mertz transferred to Florida in December, the widespread reaction was, “Goodbye, and good riddance.”

To which Billy Napier told Mertz, “Let’s make them eat those words.”

He didn’t really say that, at least as far as we know. But Napier, for one, is pumped to have Mertz and his tan-lined passing arm on the roster.

As for Florida fans, it’s safe to say most don’t awaken every morning thinking their QB woes have been solved. In the portal transfer beauty pageant, most were hoping to land someone like Sam Hartman from Wake Forest or Walker Howard from LSU.

Mertz was like winning a date with Miss Congeniality. It’s better than nothing, but it’s not Miss America.

It’s not even certain Mertz is the best QB in camp. It might be Jack Miller, last seen running for his life in the Las Vegas Bowl.

For now, the Gators’ quarterback situation is jumbled at best. I’d like to spread a little springtime optimism, so here’s the report from Saturday’s practice:

In the 15 minutes the media were allowed to observe, Mertz completed 15 of 16 passes to receivers who weren’t covered. Then he spoke to the press for the first time since arriving at UF.

I can report that he’s poised, affable and says all the right things. Does that mean the newest QB in camp will flourish in a new home?

Like all these things (new defensive coordinator, rebuilt offensive line), who really knows? All we can do is debate it ad nauseam until the season starts.

If you’re pro-Mertz, you start with him being the best pocket passer (according to ESPN rankings) in the 2019 recruiting class. Big-name coaches beat a path to his door in Overland Park, Kansas. Instead of going to a QB factory like Oklahoma or Alabama, Mertz chose the Badgers.

It was quite a coup for Wisconsin, where the forward pass has traditionally been as popular as surfing. But Mertz wanted to be the guy who transformed the program. At first, he appeared to do it overnight.

He completed 20 of 21 passes and threw for five TDs in his first start. As the Badgers polished off Illinois 45.3, no less a figure than Patrick Mahomes tweeted, “That man @GrahamMertz5 going crazy tonight!”

The savior had arrived in Madison. Fans were ready to lay palm branches in front of him as he rode a donkey through town. Then, to carry the analogy through, they were ready to crucify him.

A COVID outbreak canceled Wisconsin’s next two games. Mertz didn’t look anything like the wunderkind he’d been in the opener.

The struggles were just beginning. Mertz's completion rate dropped from 61.1% as a freshman to 59.5% to 57.3% last year. He didn’t have a great supporting cast, and Wisconsin’s passing overhaul led to Mertz having three QB coaches and three offensive coordinators in four seasons.

The extenuating circumstances were real. But so were more errant throws and bad reads than Wisconsin fans cared to count.

“I wouldn’t really say anything went wrong,” Mertz said. “We just didn’t have anything go really right.”

His final Big Ten stats: 32 starts, 38 TDs, 26 interceptions, a lot of unfulfilled expectations.

“I needed a fresh start,” Mertz said.

He thinks Florida’s spread offense will suit him better than what Wisconsin had him try to do. As thrilling as it was riding the Anthony Richardson roller coaster last season, Florida doesn’t have to have a Superman running things.

It needs a quarterback who can read defenses, throw with competence and be dependable. And while Mertz said he didn’t feel the fan pressure at Wisconsin, he likes the thought of not being hailed as a QB messiah.

“It’s awesome,” Mertz said.

No doubt, he believes he’s on the sunny side of the street. He just needs to have more to show for it in a few months than some nice tan lines.

David Whitley is The Gainesville Sun's sports columnist. Contact him at dwhitley@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidEWhitley

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Mertz is relishing his fresh start at Florida