Graham Mertz is a 6'4" 205 lb prototype pro style QB from Mission Kansas. The 2019 signal caller quarterbacked Blue Valley North High School while amassing 3684 yards, 45 TD's vs 6 Int and completing 62% of his passes. This current Wisconsin Badger commit was recently offered by Jon Richt and has been racking up notable offers to include Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.
Graham Mertz HUDL
Footwork/Rhythm: Very fundamentally sound with his footwork. This kid is well coached and it is clearly evident on film. Something as simple as his ability to sync his first step in rhythm with the snap from gun is proof positive of good fundamentals. Also very notable is his ability to stay tall and balanced after a throw. A good throw is habitually tied to a balanced finish. Also one of the better films this cycle on roll outs and outside the pocket. Gets his shoulders squared to the target and is routinely moving in the direction of the target on release. Eyes are down field and a lot of his big plays are a byproduct once Mertz is on the move. This is some of the more impressive roll out film since 2017 cycle Stanford signed signal caller Davis Mills. Rhythm is exceptionally good. Ball is continually out on time and in syncopated framework with his wide receivers. Three step drops do not contain any extra hitch idiosyncrasies and his front stride length is controlled and contained. Never found myself after many breakdowns of various films saying the ball was late. Anticipation is also shown on several throws.
Accuracy/Arm Strength/Arm Mechanics. Good accuracy leading to many run after catch scenarios. Many consistent accurate balls on the higher number routes to include, corners, deep posts and verticals. Ultimately when Mertz hits his target he hits them within a realigned simple catch radius and receivers aren't consistently "reaching" for balls. Arm Strength shows him more than capable to hit routes on the upper end of the route tree. His high school offense relies heavily upon vertical passing schemes and he is more than capable to make the throws necessary. Tracked in the 55 yard range on film with the capability to extent beyond. Wouldn't classify Mertz in the higher echelon of power throwers. (N'kosi Perry had better top end arm talent coming out of Vanguard for instance) But Mertz is more than capable of making throws of all capacity across the yard. Arm Mechanics are very consistent and repeatable not phased to pressure. Short rotational C guy with good effortless and repeatable delivery system. Mertz is not a kid who is going to sacrifice time with a big windup to deliver the ball. Db's are not routinely jumping any hitch in his mechanics.
Mobility: Would classify Mertz by all stretch of the imagination as a "Pro Style" quarterback. Mertz is zone read capable and shows the ability on film but I would not classify this as a strength. His threat index increases outside the pocket. Mertz has the ability to extend plays and allude defenders and shows "throw first" tenancy for good reason. Mertz possess that ability similar to an Aaron Rodgers where you need to cover your wide receivers longer than you think. Once Mertz goes outside the pocket it is like the dinner bell is going off in his head and he is looking to feed his receivers downfield. Ultimately Mertz in terms of mobility if very capable under the pro style umbrella but is not a touchdown in a bottle with his running ability to be classified as a dual threat.
Roman Rank: I really like Mertz. He shows matured quarterbacking feel to include looking off defenders and has a really good grasp of his offense. Mertz knows where the ball is supposed to go. Saw some great anticipatory foresight and balls in the air while receivers where still in their breaks. One thing I also walked away very impressed by is how diversified his offensive passing system is in comparison to many other high school offenses. His OC asks him to operate in various formations and the route combos are not simply mirrored route concepts. Mertz's system essentially requires him to read the whole field. That shows great trust from an OC and I don't think the recent offer boom Mertz has received is a fluke. Richt and company might be late to the party as Mertz is currently committed to Wisconsin plus his recruitment is going to be accompanied by various heavy hitter suitors. You also take into consideration that he is a Midwest kid with no seeming ties to Florida and this might be a half court heave. Either way rank him we will. 4 STARS. Easily deserving to occupy real estate in that upper stratosphere. Kid is a good one.
Graham Mertz HUDL
Footwork/Rhythm: Very fundamentally sound with his footwork. This kid is well coached and it is clearly evident on film. Something as simple as his ability to sync his first step in rhythm with the snap from gun is proof positive of good fundamentals. Also very notable is his ability to stay tall and balanced after a throw. A good throw is habitually tied to a balanced finish. Also one of the better films this cycle on roll outs and outside the pocket. Gets his shoulders squared to the target and is routinely moving in the direction of the target on release. Eyes are down field and a lot of his big plays are a byproduct once Mertz is on the move. This is some of the more impressive roll out film since 2017 cycle Stanford signed signal caller Davis Mills. Rhythm is exceptionally good. Ball is continually out on time and in syncopated framework with his wide receivers. Three step drops do not contain any extra hitch idiosyncrasies and his front stride length is controlled and contained. Never found myself after many breakdowns of various films saying the ball was late. Anticipation is also shown on several throws.
Accuracy/Arm Strength/Arm Mechanics. Good accuracy leading to many run after catch scenarios. Many consistent accurate balls on the higher number routes to include, corners, deep posts and verticals. Ultimately when Mertz hits his target he hits them within a realigned simple catch radius and receivers aren't consistently "reaching" for balls. Arm Strength shows him more than capable to hit routes on the upper end of the route tree. His high school offense relies heavily upon vertical passing schemes and he is more than capable to make the throws necessary. Tracked in the 55 yard range on film with the capability to extent beyond. Wouldn't classify Mertz in the higher echelon of power throwers. (N'kosi Perry had better top end arm talent coming out of Vanguard for instance) But Mertz is more than capable of making throws of all capacity across the yard. Arm Mechanics are very consistent and repeatable not phased to pressure. Short rotational C guy with good effortless and repeatable delivery system. Mertz is not a kid who is going to sacrifice time with a big windup to deliver the ball. Db's are not routinely jumping any hitch in his mechanics.
Mobility: Would classify Mertz by all stretch of the imagination as a "Pro Style" quarterback. Mertz is zone read capable and shows the ability on film but I would not classify this as a strength. His threat index increases outside the pocket. Mertz has the ability to extend plays and allude defenders and shows "throw first" tenancy for good reason. Mertz possess that ability similar to an Aaron Rodgers where you need to cover your wide receivers longer than you think. Once Mertz goes outside the pocket it is like the dinner bell is going off in his head and he is looking to feed his receivers downfield. Ultimately Mertz in terms of mobility if very capable under the pro style umbrella but is not a touchdown in a bottle with his running ability to be classified as a dual threat.
Roman Rank: I really like Mertz. He shows matured quarterbacking feel to include looking off defenders and has a really good grasp of his offense. Mertz knows where the ball is supposed to go. Saw some great anticipatory foresight and balls in the air while receivers where still in their breaks. One thing I also walked away very impressed by is how diversified his offensive passing system is in comparison to many other high school offenses. His OC asks him to operate in various formations and the route combos are not simply mirrored route concepts. Mertz's system essentially requires him to read the whole field. That shows great trust from an OC and I don't think the recent offer boom Mertz has received is a fluke. Richt and company might be late to the party as Mertz is currently committed to Wisconsin plus his recruitment is going to be accompanied by various heavy hitter suitors. You also take into consideration that he is a Midwest kid with no seeming ties to Florida and this might be a half court heave. Either way rank him we will. 4 STARS. Easily deserving to occupy real estate in that upper stratosphere. Kid is a good one.
