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GAINESVILLE — Florida quarterback Graham Mertz knew the painkillers were talking, but he’d worked too hard for too long to fight the NFL feeling.
A torn left ACL Oct. 11 at Tennessee abruptly and cruelly ended Mertz’s college career. On his way to surgery to repair the injury he vowed to come back stronger and sooner than expected to pursue his professional dream.
“The day I had my surgery, there’s a video of me talking, and I was saying — I was all drugged up — but I’m like, ‘Just wait ’til Pro Day, wait ’til Pro Day,'” Mertz recalled following his surprising return March 27. “This morning I saw that video and it got me. It’s special that I could do it.”
Less than a month since Mertz’s Pro Day appearance, the 24-year-old hoped to hear his name called during the NFL draft, which started Thursday with Miami quarterback Cam Ward going No. 1 to the Titans.
Mertz is among many former Gators not sure what this weekend would bring.
This draft marks just the second since 2012 when the Gators have not had a first-round pick. If as expected no one were selected Friday during Rounds 2 and 3, it will be the first time since Jaye Howard went No. 114 overall to Seattle in ’12 that Florida’s first selection arrived in the fourth round or later.
“Just look at Florida’s record on the field; it’s just a reflection of that,” longtime draft analyst Tony Pauline told the Orlando Sentinel.
Coming off an inconsistent college career and a serious knee injury, Mertz is at best a long shot. Mock drafts project him as a possible seventh-round pick and likely undrafted free agent.
Mertz is eager to prove himself to whoever offers him a shot.
With 48 college starts at Wisconsin (32) and Florida (16), Mertz quarterbacked five different seasons.
“I’ve been a team captain four times in college,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of experiences learn from them all, and I know how to lead men, point blank — period. That’s how I go.”
Mertz also played in two vastly different offenses.
The native of Kansas and one of the nation’s top QB recruits in 2020 lined up under center in the pro-style attack of Paul Chryst at Wisconsin and primarily faced zone coverage-based defenses in the Big 10. At UF, Mertz played out of the shotgun in Billy Napier’s attack and went against more man-to-man and exotic pressure schemes in the SEC.
“I’ve seen a lot of ball, played a lot of ball, a lot of different offenses, a lot of different schemes,” Mertz said.
Along the way, Mertz also vastly improved his consistency and accuracy.
He arrived three years ago at UF after throwing 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions while completing just under 60% of his throws at Wisconsin. In 2023 with the Gators, Mertz set program records for completion percentage in a season (72.9) and consecutive passes without an interception (239) while throwing 20 touchdowns and just 3 picks.
If the 6-foot-3, 216-pound Mertz cannot earn a roster spot in the NFL, he’ll likely end up on a practice squad, Pauline said.
Despite his experience level, Mertz ultimately was held back by his injury.
“It hurt his development,” said Pauline, who works for Sportskeeda.com. “Obviously it’s a medical red flag. It was a serious injury. He doesn’t get to finish out the season to show continued progress in his game.”
Whatever happens, Mertz earned his teammates’ respect for his fast return and determination.
“It just shows how dedicated he is to the game, and what it means to him,” safety Trikweze Bridges said.
Draft projections
Cam Jackson, DT, 4th round
The athletic 6-foot-6 Jackson ended an inconsistent career with 1.5 tackles for loss in consecutive games but after producing just 1 TFL the rest of the season. Down to 328 pounds after he ballooned to 373 in 2023, Jackson should have his best football ahead.
Chimere Dike, WR, 5th round
The Wisconsin transfer’s one season at UF, along with his versatility and a blazing 40 time of 4.34 seconds at the combine, intrigues teams. Dike was productive as a receiver (42 catches, 783 yards, 3 scores), averaged 13.4 yards on 14 punt returns and lined up at gunner. At 6-1 1/2, 195 pounds, Dike runs good route, has dependable hands and big-play ability (team-high 18 20-yard catches).
Shemar James, LB, 5th round
James entered 2024 with a second-day grade, had solid production (165 tackles in 34 games) and showed he could pursue sideline to sideline. But his stock has dropped because he’s undersized (6-1, 222), ran just 4.69 seconds in 40 and was consistently beaten in pass coverage at Senior Bowl practices.
Brendan Crenshaw-Dickson, OL, 5th round
The San Diego State transfer started 47 college games and has prototypical size (6-7, 322) but finished in the bottom three in agility tests at the combine and last in the vertical jump and three-cone drill. He still could be a valuable rotational player at right tackle or guard.
Jason Marshall Jr., CB, 5th round
A former 5-star recruit with physical stature (6-0, 194) and high draft grades early in his career, Marshall played just seven games in 2024 (shoulder injury) and had just 2 career interceptions, though he produced 18 breaks-up in 2022-23. Top-end speed is a concern; his 40-yard dash of 4.49 ranked 17th out of 24 cornerbacks.
Montrell Johnson, RB, 6th round
Good size (5-11, 212), production (3,035 yards, 33 touchdowns) and a 4.41 40 time (fifth among running backs) could pique an NFL team’s interest. He also had two runs of 65 yards or longer in 2024 and vastly improved his receiving ability; he had 30 catches in 2023 after managing just 18 receptions in 2021-22.
Elijhah Badger, WR, 6th round
He capitalized on his size (6-1, 200), speed (4.43 40) and ability to run after the catch to lead the Gators with 798 receiving yards and 4 scores on 39 catches — 10 of them for at least 20 yards. He arrived from Arizona State hoping to follow in the footsteps of 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall, UF’s leading receiver in 2022 and 2023, but Badger will have to wait to hear his name called.
Jeremy Crawshaw, P, 6th round
The native of Australia could be the first punter drafted after he averaged a school-record 46.4 yards for his career and placed 25 of 54 punts in 2024 inside the 20.
Trikweze Bridges, S, 7th round
After he was not invited to the combine despite leading UF with 70 tackles, Bridges ran a 4.3-second 40 at UF’s Pro Day. The Oregon transfer will get a shot in the NFL after starting 25 college games at both safety and cornerback.
Des Watson, DT, Undrafted free agent
At 6-foot-5, 464 pounds, Watson would be the heaviest player ever drafted. The Plant City native’s struggle with his weight undermines surprising athletic ability, along with Herculean strength (36 repetitions with 225 pounds).
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
