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 when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a 23-17 overtime loss to then-No. 8 Tennessee on Saturday.
He will have surgery once the swelling goes down and plans to spend more time working closely with highly regarded freshman DJ Lagway.
“I’m here in any way, shape or form for DJ, for this quarterback room,” Mertz said Wednesday. “I told him, ‘Whatever you need. If it’s someone to talk to about life, if it’s someone to talk to about what I’m seeing on the field.’ I’m not going to overstep, but I’m going to do everything I can to help.”
Mertz expects to be a mentor, motivator, and cheerleader as Lagway and the Gators (3-3, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) prepare to face Kentucky (3-3, 1-3) on Saturday night.
“A lot of people, if they get hurt, they’re like, ‘No,’” Mertz said. “I’m going to get in there. I’m going to tell them everything I’m seeing.”
Mertz actually hurt his knee two plays before he left the game against the Volunteers. He felt a pop in his knee while making a cut during a 15-yard run on a third-and-4 play in the third quarter.
He stayed on the field for two more plays: a handoff to Jaden Baugh and then a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Arlis Boardingham that put the Gators ahead 10-0.
Mertz felt a lot of pain when he threw the ball and then fell to the ground while celebrating. He eventually limped to the sideline and into the locker room, reappearing later with a knee brace and using crutches.
“This wasn’t really how I saw the end of my career here being,” said Mertz, who transferred from Wisconsin before the 2023 season. “Obviously didn’t want to go out that way, but that’s how the dice rolls. For me, it’s something new to attack and get ready for the next step.”
Mertz finishes his college career with 9,099 passing yards in 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 at Missouri, a concussion last month against Miami, and now a serious knee injury.
The 23-year-old from Kansas hopes to recover enough to at least throw for NFL teams before the draft in April. He will receive a lot of advice during his rehab, including from his two older sisters, who faced a total of “four or five” knee injuries while playing basketball and volleyball.
“The biggest thing in life is you’re going to be handed a lot of circumstances, and it’s all up to how you’re going to handle it,” Mertz said. “That’s where you have a choice every day on how you’re going to approach it.”
Mertz’s plan involves supporting 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 accepted coach Billy Napier’s plan for them to share playing time this season and has done everything he can to help Lagway improve.
Now he will watch closely as Lagway takes charge.
“For me, the biggest thing is cheerleader, mentor, the whole shebang on that front,” Mertz said. “And I think my goal for myself through this process is to have an uncommon amount of joy every morning.”
