Gators’ Mertz has torn ACL, ending college career

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz will have surgery and miss the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during Saturday’s overtime loss to Tennessee, coach Billy Napier announced Monday.

“It’s only right that I say how much I appreciate what he’s brought to the team,” Napier said.

It was an excruciating way for Mertz, a sixth-year senior, to end his college career. It was a noncontact injury that occurred after he threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Arlis Boardingham midway through the third quarter to put Florida ahead 10-0.

As Mertz was backing up after making the throw, his leg appeared to land awkwardly on the turf. He was attended to by trainers, limped off the field and slammed his helmet to the ground when he got to the sideline. Mertz watched the fourth quarter on crutches and wearing a brace on his knee.

With Mertz sidelined, Florida will turn to true freshman DJ Lagway full time at quarterback.

Mertz sent a message on social media to Florida fans and thanked them for “two incredible years in Gainesville.” During his recovery, he vowed to “remain a part of the program and do whatever I can in meeting rooms and from the sideline to help my teammates win.”

Mertz was also injured to end last season when he fractured his collarbone in the next-to-last game against Missouri. He elected to return for the 2024 season instead of entering the NFL draft.

He missed the Week 2 win this season over Samford after suffering a concussion in the season-opening loss to Miami. Mertz began his career at Wisconsin and was a three-year starter for the Badgers before transferring to Florida.

In five games this season, Mertz passed for six touchdowns and two interceptions. He leads the country with a 76.6 completion percentage and threw a touchdown pass in 15 of his 16 career starts at Florida.

Lagway had been rotating with Mertz for much of this season and started for the injured Mertz in Week 2 and passed for 456 yards. In the loss to Tennessee, Lagway threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike on third-and-19 in the final seconds to force overtime.

Lagway was ESPN’s top-rated quarterback nationally in the 2024 signing class and the No. 8 prospect overall.

The Gators (3-3, 1-2 SEC) return home to face Kentucky on Saturday. Then they play four straight games against teams ranked in the top 20 in the AP poll, including three teams in the top 8 (No. 5 Georgia, No. 1 Texas and No. 8 LSU).