Graham Mertz lone member from Florida Football to make Maxwell Award watch list

Graham Mertz has been underappreciated at times this offseason. While he wasn't an exciting choice for Florida Football when he announced he was coming to Gainesville from Wisconsin, he more than proved his worth during the 2023 season.

So while Mertz has been left off a handful of other lists this offseason, he was included on the Maxwell Award Watch List that was released today.

Florida Football: Watch This

Last year, Mertz had a 72% completion rate for 2,910 yards passing. Most impressive about his season was 20 touchdowns against just three interceptions. He finished graded 31st nationally and 6th in the SEC by Pro Football Focus among QBs who took at least 300 dropbacks.

But in part because of Florida's 5-7 season in 2023, Mertz has found himself still under the radar of most national pundits.

The Maxwell Award, handed out to the nation's best QB, is at least keeping tabs on Mertz as they released their preseason watchlist and included Mertz.

The lengthy list also has Byrum Brown from USF, KJ Jefferson from UCF, DJ Uiagalelei from FSU, and Cam Ward from Miami from the Sunshine State as other QBs being watched.

But considering Montrell Johnson couldn't make it on the runningback watchlist and Tre Wilson couldn't make it on the wide receiver watchlist, it wasn't automatic that Mertz would get included among those watched.

Below are all the QB's who are included on the list:

Joey Aguilar, Appalachian State, Senior

Drew Allar, Penn State, Junior

Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma, Sophomore

Carson Beck, Georgia, Senior

Byrum Brown, South Florida, Sophomore

Thomas Castellanos, Boston College, Junior

Brady Cook, Missouri, Senior

Jalon Daniels, Kansas, Senior

Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, Senior

Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech, Junior

Quinn Ewers, Texas, Junior

Noah Fifita, Arizona, Sophomore

TJ Finley, Western Kentucky, Junior

Dequan Finn, Baylor, Senior

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, Senior

Garrett Greene, West Virginia, Senior

Seth Henigan, Memphis, Senior

Will Howard, Ohio State, Senior

Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee, RS Freshman

KJ Jefferson, UCF, Senior

Avery Johnson, Kansas State, Sophomore

Haynes King, Georgia Tech, Junior

Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Junior

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame, Senior

Grayson McCall, NC State, Senior

Jordan McCloud, Texas State, Senior

Kyle McCord, Syracuse, Senior

Graham Mertz, Florida, Senior

Jalen Milroe, Alabama, Junior

Miler Moss, USC, Junior

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Junior

Cameron Rising, Utah, Senior

Will Rogers, Washington, Senior

Kaidon Salter, Liberty, Junior

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Senior

Brayden Schager, Hawaii, Senior

Tyler Shough, Louisville, Senior

Preston Stone, SMU, Junior

DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State, Senior

Cam Ward, Miami, Senior

Conner Weigman, Texas A&M, Sophomore