Florida Football: Billy Napier doesn’t trust Graham Mertz to be Gators QB

Yesterday Billy Napier spoke at a press conference giving an update on Florida football following National Signing Day. He spoke about the Jaden Rashada situation and he gave praise to incoming QB Graham Mertz.

But then Napier slipped in a line during the press conference that doesnoff-season’t exactly paint a picture of confidence in the Wisconsin QB.

Florida Football: Not done in the portal

We’ve chronicled Gator Nation’s trust in Mertz and it isn’t high. His stat line was Wisconsin simply isn’t good enough, though deeper analysis shows a QB that was hampered by an inept offense around him and rudimentary play calling that made everything predictable.

It is one thing if a Florida football fan isn’t buying that narrative that Mertz is better than what he showed. Fans aren’t doing deep dives on mechanics and don’t know behind the scenes what the plan is.

It is another thing if the coach that brought you in is admitting in public that a replacement might be coming before you have even taken a snap.

This is right after Napier spent his press conference praising Mertz and indicated that Florida football evaluated over 20 QBs in the transfer portal and felt most confident in Mertz.

So why openly admit that you will still be looking after everyone’s Spring Game is complete if Mertz is the guy? Typically anyone you are going to grab in the Spring transfer portal is someone who got beat out for the starting job at their school, so at best you would be finding a backup QB in the portal. This was the case last year when Emory Jones transferred out in the Spring when it was clear he would be a backup to Anthony Richardson.

Does that mean Jack Miller doesn’t have the trust of Napier? Maybe, but if Napier is trying to find a backup QB, would a QB come to Florida to be a backup right after he transferred because he was going to be a backup?

There is nothing wrong with being willing to always seek out the best talent. If someone enters the portal that is better than Mertz and Napier brings that guy in, good. This is the SEC, not a participation trophy league. Alabama has had the success they have had because of a cutthroat mentality. Super Bowl QB Jalen Hurts got benched at halftime of the National Title game after all.

But if Mertz is supposed to step up and be the leader of this squad during Spring workouts, how is he supposed to achieve that leadership role if Napier is openly admitting he is going to shop for another QB?

This could have been something that was told Mertz behind closed doors. But now that it’s out there it will be something to monitor once Spring practice ramps up.