Florida football: 3 bold predictions for the Gators in 2023
![Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) throws the ball during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fd51b1e0350baba7dbd83da2b3a3fd39c128bafd1b61f63b4e78d61e71358126d.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) throws the ball during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
![Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) passes during practice at Gary Condron Family Indoor Practice Facility in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fd45e2e5a00e29ba040aca56fe8f902f1216dfa20945fbee74cce482ac5ae29fb.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) passes during practice at Gary Condron Family Indoor Practice Facility in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
2. Graham Mertz has a Bo Nix-like resurgence
When Graham Mertz was in high school, he was one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the country. He ultimately committed to Wisconsin and everyone kind of scratched their heads because the Badgers are known for running the ball and being a run-first offense.
Mertz took a chance and he showed some flashes early on. He completed 9-of-10 passes for 73 yards as a freshman and then as a redshirt freshman in 2020, he took over and had 1,238 yards and nine touchdowns on 61 percent completions. He looked like a quick-learning quarterback who was ready to take over the Big Ten in 2021.
However, his first full season as the starting quarterback didn’t go as planned as he finished with just under 2,000 yards and more interceptions (11) than touchdown passes (10). His final season in Madison was better, but it just felt like time to move on.
Mertz changed scenery and headed to the SEC where Florida needed a new QB1 with Anthony Richardson gone. And now he’s officially been named the starter.
This may seem bold, but I’m projecting a career resurgence from Mertz in Gainesville similar to the one Bo Nix had at Oregon last year. I’ll say 3,000 yards passing and 25 touchdowns with less than 10 picks.