Florida quarterback Graham Mertz has taken on a new role for the rest of the season: coach.
Mertz’s college career came to an end after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a 23-17 overtime defeat against then-No. 8 Tennessee. He will undergo surgery once the swelling decreases and plans to dedicate himself to supporting highly regarded freshman DJ Lagway.
“I’m here to help DJ and this quarterback room in any way I can,” Mertz said. “I told him, ‘Whatever you need, whether it’s advice about life or insights from the field. I won’t overstep, but I’ll do everything possible to assist.’”
Mertz anticipates being a mentor, motivator, and cheerleader as Lagway and the Gators (3-3, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) prepare to face Kentucky (3-3, 1-3).
“A lot of people might sulk after an injury, but I’m ready to jump in and share my observations,” Mertz explained. He actually injured his knee just two plays before leaving the game against Tennessee, feeling a pop while cutting during a 15-yard run on a crucial third down. He managed to stay on the field for two more plays, including a touchdown pass that gave the Gators a 10-0 lead.
Mertz felt intense pain as he celebrated the touchdown and soon limped off the field, later appearing on the sidelines with a knee brace and crutches.
“This wasn’t how I envisioned the end of my career here,” Mertz admitted. “I obviously didn’t want to go out this way, but that’s how it turned out. Now it’s about tackling this new challenge and preparing for the next step.”
Over his college career, Mertz threw for 9,099 yards across 50 games, with 64 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. However, he left three of his last six games due to injuries: a broken collarbone last November, a concussion against Miami, and now the knee injury.
The 23-year-old from Kansas hopes to recover enough to showcase his skills to NFL teams before the draft in April. He’ll receive plenty of guidance during rehab, including advice from his two older sisters, who have each dealt with multiple knee injuries from sports.
“The key in life is how you respond to the circumstances you face,” Mertz said. “Every day you have a choice in how you approach it.”
His focus now is on helping Lagway, a five-star recruit from Texas who has completed 65.3% of his passes for 765 yards, with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Mertz embraced coach Billy Napier’s plan for shared playing time this season and has done everything to support Lagway’s development.
Now, he’ll be closely watching as Lagway steps into the starting role.
“For me, the priority is to be a cheerleader, mentor, and everything in between,” Mertz said. “My goal through this process is to find joy every morning.”
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