UF’s Billy Napier: Gators QB competition has ‘long ways to go’

GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Billy Napier is not ready to designate a leader in the quarterback competition as the Gators enter the home stretch of spring practices.

Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz arrived in January with 32 college starts and eyeing the starting role during his final college season.

Mertz has picked up the offense quickly and established himself as a leader.

“Graham Mertz has been impressive to watch,” Napier said Thursday evening following the Gators’ second scrimmage of the spring. “Just his maturity, his ability to learn a system in a very quick manner. He did two-a-days basically since the day he got here — he’s been grinding.

“He operates like a guy that been’s around here.”

UF quarterback Graham Mertz, shown during a practice in The Swamp March 28, 2023, is battling Jack Miller III to be the Gators’ starting quarterback. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Mertz has elevated the play of Jack Miller III and redshirt freshman Max Brown.

“The most important thing here is that he has forced the other players to rise to the occasion,” Napier said.

Miller has impressed his head coach.

A redshirt sophomore who transferred from Ohio State in 2021, Miller started the Gators’ 30-3 drubbing by Oregon State during the Las Vegas Bowl. He missed the regular season while recovering from a broken thumb suffered during preseason camp.

“I finally got to play in a game and see what it’s really like to start a game, prepare for a game,” Miller said earlier this spring. “It kind of fueled my off-season. I figured out where I needed to work on all off-season, and where I need to get better.”

The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Miller is more of a dual threat than Mertz, who is more comfortable passing from the pocket.

“We throw him to the wolves in the bowl game,” Napier said of Miller. “But he has really impressed me with his response to the competition.”

UF quarterback Graham Mertz throws March 28, 2023, prior to the Gators' first scrimmage of spring practices. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

All eyes will be on Mertz and Miller during April 13 spring game, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Swamp, as the Gators look to replace Anthony Richardson. Richardson is expected to be a top-five April 27 during the NFL draft.

Napier, though, said he is not compelled to anoint a starter so players can get behind around one quarterback.

“They’re rallying around both guys because both guys have proven day in and day out that they can be effective,” Napier said. “We’ve got a long ways to go before we play and a lot of reps. A lot of competition left here.”

Whoever wins the job will benefit from a strong running game.

Napier said Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne shined during Thursday’s scrimmage.

Veteran receiver Xzavier Henderson, who led the 2022 Gators with 38 catches, also stood out.

“He had a ton of plays,” Napier said. “Every time I turned around he was making a play.”

Florida receiver Xzavier Henderson hauls in a pass during a drill as the Gators kicked off their spring football camp Saturday in Gainesville. It's the second spring under coach Billy Napier. (Matt Murschel)

Freshman receiver Andy Jean of Miami “flashed a little bit,” Napier said, adding, “He’s starting to look more comfortable.”

Napier said the defense is, too.

Communication vastly improved since the team’s March 28 scrimmage. The unit produced a lot of tackles for loss and quarterback pressures.

“We were a little banged up on the offensive line today and they took advantage of that,” Napier said.

Napier said the scrimmage overall was “a typical mixed bag.”

“A lot of good, a lot of bad, a little less ugly,” he said. “We’ve still got work to do to clean it up. When you are playing a mixture of players, lots of combinations of players that presents some challenges.

“But overall the Gators got better today.”

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.