Graham Mertz and the Florida Gators are all for rebuilding the football program; they are no longer underdogs.
Quarterback Graham Mertz is steadfast in his belief that the Florida Gators can silence the doubters despite doubts about their capacity to contend for an SEC championship.
The Gators, who finished the 2023 season with a five-game losing skid, are relishing their underdog status as motivation for the upcoming 2024 campaign, having finished the previous two seasons with an 11-14 record under head coach Billy Napier.
“Everyone these days loves to assert that they can disprove the critics. It goes without saying that this team’s theme is proving one another correct. Everyone in this place wants to win, and we all know what has to be done. We’re here to prove each other correct; we’re not here to argue with each other and walk away defeated. We understand what people are saying.”
Mertz, one of Florida’s 13 returning starters, explained his decision to use his last year of eligibility with the phrase “unfinished business”. The seasoned signal-caller praised Napier’s unwavering commitment to detail and urgency while reiterating his belief in the head coach’s ability to manage and develop players.
“Emergency and meticulousness have been the guiding principles since the moment I arrived. He’s been confined in 24 hours a day, and he doesn’t forget a single thing. One of the things about being a leader on this team, in my opinion, is that you have to be able to identify it, recognize the standards, and understand the urgency of doing things well, starting with him. Every day, he sets the tone.”
Mertz topped the SEC in completion percentage (72.9%) and passed for 2,903 yards with 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions in his debut season as Napier’s main quarterback.
Finebaum also asked about Florida’s schedule strength, noting that the team will play Miami at The Swamp on August 31 to start the season. The Gators’ non-conference games against rival Florida State and UCF will be against teams from the Power Four conferences, making up 11 of their 12 opponents. Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, and FSU are the final five opponents. All of them placed among the top 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings at the end of the previous campaign.
“You play at Florida for these matchups, which is why you come to the SEC. You want to compete with the best players at the biggest level possible. Every day as we exit the locker room, we see what lies ahead of us, and that thrills us.”
