Mertz to Participate as Counselor for Manning Passing Academy

For over 25 years, the Manning Passing Academy has helped players fully realize their potential on and off of the football field. Welcoming youth quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends to the annual clinic, the Manning Passing Academy “helps you grasp the fundamentals of your position, and basic offensive and defensive strategies.”

Each year, the camp seeks out coaches and players from the professional, college, and high school ranks to help teach and mentor those youth players who attend the camp. Richardson will have the opportunity to learn and work with College Football Hall of Famer Archie and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning along with two-time Super Bowl Champion Eli Manning.

Numerous previous Manning Passing Academy counselors have gone on to collegiate and professional success. In 2022, former Gator QB and 4th overall selection in the 2-23 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson was a counselor. This year Mertz will be joined by fellow counselors such as Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and others. 

Last fall, Mertz announced his return to Florida for his final year of eligibility after a career season that saw him write his name into the Gators record book. 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. He set program records of consecutive passes without an interception (239), consecutive passes completed (19) and season-best completion percentage with 72.9% (261 of 358). Mertz tied second all-time in UF history with completion percentage in a game (83.3%) on two occasion and notched sixth multi-touchdown performances.

He earned his degree this spring with Cum Laude honors and was named to the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athelte Honor Society and NFF (National Football Foundation) Hampshire Honor Society. Mertz also was also named the SEC Player and Davey O’Brien Player of the Week for his performance at South Carolina that featured a 4th quarter comeback victory with the Gators scoring 14 points (two passing touchdowns) in the final five minutes. He finished 30-for-48 with a…