Florida Football: Graham Mertz runs through brick wall and pays price

The landscape for Florida football faces a quarterback shakeup as Graham Mertz suffered a non-displaced collarbone fracture during their 33-31 loss to No. 9 Missouri.

Billy Napier described Mertz’s injury as “significant,” and while surgery remains uncertain, it’s likely to keep the redshirt junior out for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Florida Football: Run through a brick wall

The injury happened in the second half when Mertz scrambled out of the pocket and looked to run for a first down. Rather than slide, he took the Missouri defender head on and plowed right through him.

Mertz initially looked to be okay, but one play later had to leave and did not return.

In Mertz’s absence, redshirt freshman Max Brown stepped up for the Gators. Brown showcased promise, completing all three of his passes for 39 yards and adding 42 rushing yards. Napier praised Brown for settling into the game and making crucial plays, emphasizing his athleticism and ability to execute both passes and runs.

With Mertz probably done, it means both Florida and FSU will be without their starting QBs next week. The Seminoles also find themselves in a quarterback predicament as star Jordan Travis left their game against North Alabama with a leg injury that we don’t recommend you actually go watch.

Florida State is likely to turn to redshirt junior Tate Rodemaker, who in relief of the injured Travis, threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns against North Alabama.