Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz addresses the media for the first time since suffering a season-ending torn ACL against Tennessee last week. He discusses the details of his injury, how it occurred, and his plans for the future.
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Opening statement:
“Well, obviously, this wasn’t really how I saw the end of my career here being. I think the biggest thing these past couple of days have just been so thankful for the whole experience, so thankful for you guys, for everybody in this building, everything everybody’s done to help better me as a player and a person. I’m forever thankful for it. And I think that’s one thing that, when it’s all said and done, this is a place that someday I’ll be able to take my family to and come to games and a place that excites me. Like I said, forever thankful for it. So obviously didn’t want to go out that way. But that’s how the dice rolls. For me, it’s something new to attack and get ready for the next step. Appreciate you guys. You guys have always been fun. It’s been fun to come in here and just be myself, so thank you.”
On his decision to talk to the media:
“I think the biggest thing is just being able to just keep it real. I mean, obviously, like, for me, it’s upsetting. But I was just talking to Hutch a few minutes ago. I’ve seen guys go through it. I’ve seen guys on this team and the way they’ve attacked it, and I think just being able to come up here and talk to you guys and talk to the fans about what we’re going through and just keeping it real is big. I just wanted to come talk a little bit. I like talking.”
On whether or not he knew immediately that he had suffered a serious knee injury when it happened:
“So it actually didn’t happen on the touchdown. It happened two plays before, and I think the adrenaline running through my veins. It’s kind of the same thing that happened at Mizzou with my collarbone. It was on the scramble play, I think it was third-and-6, and it happened on the initial cut. So I kind of jumped into the cut, came out of it and that’s when I originally felt the pop. And then just kind of finished the play, hit Chim, celebration and then I just thought I just tweaked it because we had a run play the next play, and then a pass play came in. That was when I really felt it, kind of when I drove into it to make the throw. So happened a few plays earlier, really felt it after that last one.”
On throwing a touchdown pass on his final play as a Gator:
“Yeah, it did. It was funny. So my sister’s pregnant, and I called her, and I was like, ‘Hey, if your son ever has a stubbed toe or a broken finger, jammed finger, just call me up and I’ll toughen him up real quick. Tell him that story.”
On whether or not he would pursue a medical redshirt and return to college football in 2025:
“I think that for me, it’s time for the next step. Played a lot of ball, man, a lot of college football. I just know that mentally, emotionally and physically, I’m ready for that next step. And obviously this is something new I got to attack and get ready for that. Like I said and I will always say, I love this place. I can play 50 years of college football here if I could. But I just know that mentally I’m ready to be in an NFL locker room, to lead men and do that. So it definitely excites me, and that would be what we’re working for.”
On his role moving forward:
“Coach.
“I think that my job right now is – obviously you got surgery coming up, and the initial getting back from that – but this week and up until that, my job is to be a coach, to be in the meeting rooms, to talk to guys, just be myself and continue what I was doing. Obviously it’s a little different, not being able to be out at practice. But I think my job right now is to help. I mean, I said it in my post, it’s my job to help this team win any way I can. For right now, it’s the meeting rooms. It’s talking through defensive structures, our game plan and prepping as if I’m playing. Because in doing that I can help out a lot of people and just kind of help them do their job a little bit better.”
On being a mentor to DJ Lagway:
“I think that’s what you play this game for. I wake up every day, and my goal is to go serve other people in any facet, that is, if it’s putting a smile on your face, if it’s trying to show you the right way to do something, if it’s just being someone to talk to. I think that’s why this game’s so special because you can have that impact on a lot of people. And I think that’s why I enjoy this game so much, just being able to help others in any way. It means a lot. It means a lot. I think that looking back at it in these past two years, it definitely feels good when you see the stuff you’ve done. So it’s been a blessing, for sure. And that’s what fuels me, is being able to have those relationships with people and grow with people.”
On his presence during games moving forward:
“Oh yeah, I’ll be there with an earpiece in, getting the calls. I think that my job, obviously, I’m not a coach. Let’s just throw it out there, but I’m here to be in any way, shape or form for DJ, for this quarterback room. I told him, whatever you need, if it’s someone to talk to about life, if it’s someone to talk to about what I’m seeing on the field. I’m not going to overstep, but I’m going to do everything I can to help, and I think that’s where – a lot of people,if they get hurt, and they’re like, No, I’m going to get in there. I’m gonna tell them everything I’m seeing. No, you can’t do that with quarterback. I think that being able to have that communication, like what are you feeling right now. If you throw a pick. Like, I’ve thrown picks in my college career, I know what the feeling is after that. I’ve fumbled on the 1-yard line. I know what the feeling is for that. Stuff like that, where it’s through my experiences, how can I help others in their current state, and how can I help them learn from what they did, whether it was good or bad, grow from it and keep going. So I think being able to have that balance of, okay, this is the football aspect, but you still got to go play the game, and I’m not going to get in the way and try to tell you what I would have done. No, I’m here to help with the points after that. I think that’s where my role is.”
On if he feels well-suited for his role as a mentor and coach:
“I think for the whole team. I think that everybody, ever since this year started, my nickname was grandpa or Unc.So I’ve always been the older, mentor guy for everybody. And I think that, obviously it’s different position to position, but being able to have my experiences and explain those to people, being able to relate to what someone’s going through is big. I think that it’s kind of worked in the reverse aspect now. I got guys that have done their ACLs and all these surgeries coming up to me and this is what you got to expect, this is what you’re going to see, which for me, it’s refreshing just to have that from other guys on the team. So I think for me, the biggest thing is, yeah, cheerleader mentor, the whole shebang.bang on that front. I think that just approaching every day with the same amount of joy and happiness that I do when I wasn’t injured. And I think my goal for myself is through this process is to have an uncommon amount of joy in every morning through it.”
On a personal level, what was the flight like coming back, how emotional have you been the last few days?
“It’s funny, I think that being older and going through things like a collarbone or an AC sprain, concussion, it’s kinda like you learn to deal with your circumstances. I can’t change anything that happened, all I can control is my emotions in the current moment and getting better. I think that, like obviously for me it was the initial, I knew I tore it, when I was going to the sideline, I just knew it, it felt loose. The first thing was like ‘that sucks’, but what can I do to help that and help this team. I really just initially felt emotional. I saw my parents, I’ve seen how many times they’ve gone through this with my sisters, so i think that that was the first time I really got emotional, knowing that they’ve been through this before, but it was also a point of confidence, like ‘we’re ready, we’re going to have a plan, we’re going to know what to do. The second time was actually in Church with Chim on Sunday. We got a great church family here just being there and people coming up to you, praying for you, that was an emotional time for me. Ever since then I’ve been trying to prep for this surgery. I think that in life you can let your circumstances dictate your emotions and your feelings and your actions, or you can dictate all of those, and it won’t change your circumstances, but it’ll make you happier in your circumstances. For me it’s just been, how do I approach everyday, like right now, I’m focused on getting the strongest quads, groin, and everything I can before the surgery, and helping this team win this week, I think that’s the biggest thing. Obviously I want to play, I joke around with the coaches, like ‘yeah, I’m playing this week.’ I think in a different way, I am playing this week, and I got to prep as if I’m playing. I gotta help this team prep to play. I know these guys are fired up, it’s going to be a great atmosphere, fun game, physical game. Anytime you play these guys it’s going to be a physical game; it’s going to be a fun one.”
On whether or not having a role moving forward helps him to manage the emotions of the situation:
“Yeah, I think for me it’s just trying to keep any sense of normal, like I’m still up here all day every day. I’ve said it before, but I came back to win, and we wanna win, and that doesn’t change through adversity or an injury. So the goal is still to win, so anyway to do that we’re going to do it. I think that’s why I’m having fun right now, in a weird way I’m having fun.”
On torn ACLs in his family:
“They’ve both done multiple, I don’t know the number, but it might be more than five.”
On his mom’s reaction:
“Her biggest thing is she’s always so supportive. I mean she’s the momma bear, the protector, everything. She was emotional when it first happened, but she’s also that rock that tells you ‘You’re going to be alright’, and we’ve seen this before, everything you still seek in your future is right there, and it’s just how you approach it. I’ve been blessed to have a great support staff around me, from the people here, the trainers, coaches, teammates, my family, trainers back home, friends back home, high school coaches that all keep me focused on the task at hand. The biggest thing is in life, you’re going to be handed a lot of circumstances, and it’s all up to how you’re gonna handle it. That’s where you have a choice every day on how you’re gonna approach it.”
On players like Jack Pyburn and Cam Carroll giving him advice in the wake of his injury:
“Cam, Boone, Pyburn, all these guys have been through it, now it’s a shared experience. It’s funny because even like sisters, like I called them, we had a little group facetime and like they’re both very emotional because they went through it. For me I’m like ‘okay, three for three.’ Just being able to, not laugh in adversity, but keep it real with yourself is big. Cam [Carroll] initially spent a lot of time with me on the sideline and I appreciated that more than anything in that moment, because there were a lot of thoughts in my head, and he was the one that kept me steady on that sideline. He kept it real with me, it’s going to be hard, but it’s up to you to be harder. That was one thing I wrote in my mirror when I got home. So I appreciate Cam for that and all the guys really, I’ve had so much support. Our training staff is elite, and they’ve been so up front and honest with me on the process and everything going through it. So it’s been good.”
On selling himself to pro teams:
“I think there’s a lot of aspects to that. I think that for me, it’s realizing that OK, the timetable adds up to where there could be a possible pro day. There’s so many things that are still in sight but for me the biggest thing right now is just focusing on getting this surgery, getting rehabbing. But yeah, anything I can do. In the meantime, there’s going to be a lot of board work, prep for the meetings, all that stuff will be good. I’m just focused right now on getting the surgery, getting rehabbing and taking it one day at. time and getting a little bit better. It’ll all take care of itself.”
On using resources at UF during recovery:
“We have an elite training staff here. Elite doctors, elite everything. It’s a special place for a reason. We got great people in every aspect of this place. For me, I mean even the past couple days I’ve gotten to spend time with our trainers and talk through things. That’s where you find confidence. That’s where, you know I’m down there and I’m on the AUX cord playing music and just having fun. We have a great place with great people that genuinely care about you. That’s one thing that I’m so thankful for. I’m going to spend a lot of time here.”
On appreciating life mindset:
“That’s big. That (Ricky Pearsall getting shot) was a big mental shift for me. I’ve been hurt before and I think that when you get injured it tests your foundation and your values. I think that for me, especially this year, the biggest thing that popped into my head when I got hurt was Ricky and just knowing that, look, it’s an ACL. It’s going to get repaired, I’m going to rehab it, I’m going to be more than fine. I just thought back to the emotions of when I found out about Ricky. Nobody got shot here. Like Ricky called me and said, ‘Dude, I’m so upset,’ and I was like, ‘Rick, we’re all good, man. God is good. You’re good. That’s all that matters.’ I think just going through all this and really throughout my college career, you build that foundation for one day when hopefully I have a family and can pass it on to them. I think every day is a day when you’re prepping for the future and being able to have that and these experiences is big time.”
On how he wants to be remembered:
“I think that for me, I want to be remembered by the people I spent the most time with and the impact I had on them. Being able to build those relationships up — it meant a lot that I had people from Wisconsin reaching out to me after whether it’s trainers, academic advisers, just being able to communicate with that. For me, I just want to be remembered by how I was as a person. I want to be remembered as consistent, a good friend, a good teammate, a good player for the coaches. I think, for me, I’m so thankful for the relationships I had at both schools. Two great, prestigious schools that have rich history. I’m definitely blessed to have these two places man.”
On how helpful this experience can be for Lagway:
“Yeah, you learn a lot. You learn a lot your first year playing. I think that, for me when I thought back to when I was a freshman, when I was a sophomore, you’re learning your process. You’re learning how to prep for games, you’re learning how to study defense. You’re learning how to watch film. That’s one thing where you can sit there and watch as much film as you want but if you’re studying it, that’s the biggest thing. When you know what you’re looking for and you know what helps you. I think it’s all about refining your process. I can sit there and tell DJ exactly how I go through a week of prep but it might not work for him. We talk about it all the time. When we’re in the hotel or in the locker room, just as far as taking care of your body, he’s like, so what do you do to take care of your body and I go through it. The hard thing is, that might not work for you. There’s a point where it’s guess and check for yourself. What truly works for you? What gives you the confidence to go out there on gameday and feel your absolute best and trust your preparation to go and play. It’s going to be big for him. He’s done a great job this year through the games of refining that process. We talk about it pretty much every week in the hotel as far as, ok, how’s your body feel? He’ll tell me how his body feels. Ok, what did you do for it? Did you do anything different? Did it work? Just being able to refine that process, get a little bit better every week is the biggest thing when you’re a young player. We’ve got a lot of young players on our team and I think they’re doing a great job of that.”
On Lagway’s performance against Tennessee:
“Yeah, I think the biggest thing is he had some experience. For somebody to come in, I didn’t really play until my redshirt freshman year. That is when I really started and it took me a while to really learn the urgency that goes into a week of prep. The urgency that goes into playing an away game in a league, especially like the SEC. To go in, at his age, and I’ve said it from the start, his humility since he got here. His humility in preparation. His humility in getting his body right. All these different things that he is, every moment he’s had he’s been ready for it. I think this team has so much confidence in him. He’s got a lot of confidence in himself. That’s something that he’s gained through each week. Like, I’m going to do this. I’m ready for this. The moment’s never too big. He’s going to do a great job. I’ve got all the confidence in that. It’s funny, for me to be able to sit in these meetings and prep with him and just hear it from a different lens. When you’re in there and you’re playing, you’re really locked into what’s going on. Right now, it’s like, ok, with the offense there’s kind of a level of I know what to expect in this install for the game based on what they (Kentucky) do. Being the second time playing a team, you kind of get a feel for what they do. For me, it’s been a different shift in the meeting room to really hear all the guys in the room and how they’re talking about the plays and the defensive structure and all that. The biggest thing is his process is getting a lot better and he’s going to be ready to rock.”
On his faith helping him through this:
“It’s everything for me. I think that being able to, your biggest thing is your foundation. If you know I’m not here to do this for myself, then it makes everything easier. I know that, God has a plan for everything. Everything I’ve gone through in my career, in my life, it’s made me better. Even if it was hard. And, honestly, the hardest times are where I learn the most, where I grew the most. For me, it’s, ok, I’ve got something for you guys. One of my strength coaches, Coach Jesse, every since I got here he’s been big on the idea of, embrace it. Whatever it is, embrace it. If it’s good, embrace it. If it’s bad, embrace it even harder. The biggest thing for me is when I think back on my life, any time that I’ve gone through something hard and I didn’t embrace it, I didn’t really learn anything. When I went through hard stuff and I took it head on and really tried to learn from it. That’s where I grew a lot. For me, it’s like you almost, in a weird way, you embrace the pain. You understand that this is going to be hard. There are going to be hard days but it’s going to make you better. That comes down to, back to your question about faith, that’s what keeps you going every day. If you didn’t know there’s a huge book, a lot of pages, that tells you how to do life. It is the best book ever. It’s everything for me. Just taking time every day to spend time with God is the biggest thing.”
On his surgery date:
“We’re still trying to figure that out. The biggest thing is there’s a little bit of swelling. Just trying to get that down and then we’ll let it rip.”
On where he’ll undergo the procedure:
“Yeah, we’re figuring that out right now.”
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