Wisconsin Badgers QB Graham Mertz entering the transfer portal
The Wisconsin Badgers will have a new starting QB in 2023 - Graham Mertz has entered the transfer portal.
(Photo: Courtesy of UW Athletics)
Madison, Wis. - After an uneven junior season, UW's highest-rated quarterback recruit in school history, Graham Mertz, announced on social media that he has entered his name in the transfer portal and has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
"I am grateful for my time as a Badger, my time in Madison has taught me lessons that go far beyond the football field. I want to thank Coach Chryst, Coach Engram, Keller Chryst, our strength staff, our training room staff, and everyone that is a part of this program for making my dream come true.
I also want to express my gratitude for the great young men I was able to play alongside. To my teammates, we've been through a lot, and the thing that kept us going was our love for each other, that is one thing that can never be broken.
I have decided that I will be entering the transfer portal in pursuit of my next opportunity. I will be entering with two years of eligibility."
Mertz, a Kansas native, finished his junior season throwing for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns, both career-highs, with 10 interceptions on a 57% completion percentage.
He also posted career bests in yards per attempt (7.5) and passer rating (135.0).
He'll finish his Wisconsin Badgers career with 32 starts under his belt and 5,405 yards passing with 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
"It's a tough situation," head coach Luke Fickell told UW reporters on Sunday. "He knows that. We want nothing more than the best for him. I encouraged him to stick around here and wait and see how the changes go."
Without Mertz available for the bowl game, UW has just two scholarship quarterbacks remaining on the active roster - Chase Wolf and Myles Burkett.
Mertz is now the fifth player to enter the transfer portal since Paul Chryst was fired back in October, joining Logan Brown, Markus Allen, Deacon Hill, and Stephan Bracey.
