Wisconsin QB Mertz elects to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin backmost Graham Mertz, a erstwhile Top 25 nationalist enlistee who started the past 32 games for the Badgers, volition participate the transportation portal.

Mertz announced his determination Sunday, noting that helium has 2 seasons of eligibility. His sanction does not yet look successful the portal. He had been vocal successful his enactment for Badgers interim manager Jim Leonhard to get the imperishable job, but Wisconsin alternatively hired Cincinnati's Luke Fickell connected Nov. 27.

In a connection connected Twitter, Mertz thanked erstwhile manager Paul Chryst, violative coordinator Bobby Engram and others for "making my imagination travel true."

In 3 seasons, Mertz has 5,405 passing yards with 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions, going 19-13 arsenic Wisconsin's starting quarterback. He passed for 248 yards and 5 touchdowns successful his archetypal vocation commencement successful 2020, but was past sidelined with COVID-19 and struggled aboriginal successful the season. Mertz had uneven results the past 2 seasons.

He came to Wisconsin arsenic the astir decorated backmost enlistee successful programme history, ranked No. 21 wide by ESPN successful the 2019 class. Mertz backed up Jack Coan successful 2019 and past moved into the starting relation the pursuing twelvemonth aft Coan suffered a season-ending ft wounded successful grooming camp.