Although fall camp is nearly two months away, Florida's roster for the 2024 season is all but set, although further additions could be made in the near future. Following a 5-7 finish in Year 2 of theBilly Napierera, the Gators have once again significantly overhauled the roster during the offseason in the hopes of improving upon last season's record.
With spring camp in the books, Swamp247 is counting down Florida's 24 most important players for the 2024 season, concluding with quarterback Graham Mertz at No. 1.
No. 24 Jake Slaughter
No. 23 Sharif Denson
No. 22 Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
No. 21 Austin Barber
No. 20 Kahleil Jackson
No. 19 Arlis Boardingham
No. 18 Trikweze Bridges
No. 17 Kelby Collins
No. 16 Joey Slackman
No. 15 DJ Lagway
No. 14 Chimere Dike
No. 13 T.J. Searcy
No. 12 Jordan Castell
No. 11 Devin Moore
No. 10 Grayson Howard
No. 9 Tyreak Sapp
No. 8 Asa Turner
No. 7 Justus Boone
No. 6 Montrell Johnson
No. 5 Shemar James
No. 4 Cam Jackson
No. 3 Jason Marshall Jr.
No. 2 Eugene Wilson III
Player Profile
Height:6-foot-2.75
Weight:215 pounds
Hometown:Overland Park, Kansas
247Sports recruiting ranking:No. 167 overall transfer, No. 12-ranked quarterback in 247Sports' Transfer Rankings
Career Statistics:Mertz started the first 11 games in 2023 before being sidelined for an injury. He finished with career-highs in completions (261), passing yards (2,903), touchdown passes (20), completion percentage (72.9), passing yards per game (263.9) and efficiency (157.8) while only throwing three interceptions, marking a career-low, and tied his career-best with four rushing scores. Prior to arriving at Florida, he started 32 games at Wisconsin.
2024 Outlook:It would be difficult to envision anyone being more important to the Florida Gators than sixth-year quarterback Graham Mertz. Florida's starting quarterback impressed last season while acclimating to his newfound home after four years at Wisconsin, and expectations are even higher for him in 2024 after he proved to be more than just a competent option at signal-caller for the Gators.
Although he was undoubtedly a leader in 2023, Mertz was finding his footing and didn't want to command the leadership role from the jump, the importance of his position aside.
Now, he's far more comfortable as a leader within the program, as teammates and coaches alike noted throughout Mertz's second spring in Gainesville.
"I'm super excited about Graham. That kid, it all starts with the quarterback in my opinion. And you know, first off, he's a great person. He's an unbelievable communicator. We ask him to do a lot in our offense, and he's very, very sharp. And he has taken it to the next level more than I thought he would from last year, and that's a great sign for us," UF co-offensive coordinator Russ Callaway said. "So I'm really excited."
Furthermore, the return of Mertz is already paying dividends when it comes to the highly touted quarterback the Gators added in December as an early enrollee, DJ Lagway.
"The first thing I would say is he has the respect of the entire organization and the respect of his teammates. I think over time, his example – not only with his work ethic but I think as a competitor, has the toughness, the way he prepares, the way he treats people. Not just his teammates, but I would say all throughout the building. He's a consummate pro. And you know, I think the quarterback sets the standard for the entire team and organization. And he's done that," UF head coach Billy Napier said. "Him being back is a huge deal – not only for him personally and our team, but for DJ, as well. I think just in general, hisleadership, his voice, I mean, the guy's – it's a big deal for the Florida Gators that GrahamMertzis back to play quarterback. A ton of advantages. A ton of confidence there."
The expectation is the improvements made along the offensive line coupled with the veteran additions at wide receiver lead Mertz to not only continue the impressive play he showcased last season, but to exceed it in his second year with the Gators.
Why No. 1:There are numerous reasons as to why Mertz is the Gators' most important player entering the 2024 season, whether it's his role as the starting quarterback, his leadership capabilities, or his influence on Lagway.
The addition of Mertz in December of 2022 has aged extremely well, proving the skeptics wrong while validating the evaluation process within Napier's organization, and the wise move will only continue to benefit the program this season.
Mertz is undoubtedly hungry for success, aware it's his final year at the collegiate level, and he's put in consistent work throughout the offseason after his strong 2023 season was cut short due to an untimely injury in the penultimate game of the campaign.
Expectations are understandably lofty for Mertz this season, and – as was the case last season – his play will go a long way in determining just how successful the Gators will be this season, considering the freshman status of Lagway and the lack of proven talent in the quarterback room.
The Gators need him to play at the level he showcased last season while staying healthy throughout the season, knowing the on-field success may very well influence the future of the Florida football program as it pertains to the Napier regime.
"GrahamMertzis incredibly smart. He's super intelligent. So I feel it's a big thing. I think really highly of Graham. I think he's aleaderof men. I think he's a really smart guy like I just said," center Jake Slaughter said of Mertz. "Year two in the system, you can only imagine the improvements he's capable of."
