Mertz done for the season

Man that sucks for Graham. Look forward to having him back next year for a final season.

 

Non displaced collarbone fracture. Lots of rest to allow the bone to heal. It shouldn't need surgery. Should be 100% for spring ball.

Example of a non displaced fracture

 

Wish we would, but we don’t know how to blitz effectively.

 

Ya that definitely doesn’t need surgery. Most clavicle fractures don’t even if they’re displaced

 

Tebow without the Tebow running skill, or the truck body.

 

May he heal fast. He has been a tough trooper back there this year.

 

I think it still is. The guts and determination to get that must have first down. Epic!!! Hope a photographer got a great shot of it because he deserves to have that blown up hanging on his wall!

 

Better watch out. Board police will get you for offering up thoughts on medical issues as it relates to collarbone fractures even if obvious.

In all seriousness, thanks for the post. What a great addition Graham has been to the team. Will be great to have him back for a final season.

 

And the week before a big rivalry game!

 

Mertz is a baller. Hoping for a full and quick recovery and that he comes back for next season.

 

Really bummed for Mertz. He’s been a real baller this season. However, I’m excited for Brown and looking forward to his prep and game against Tallacrappy.

 

No doubt....if they had his attitude on defense, it might be a lot better.

 

There’s one ray of sunshine in all this.

Now he can spend more time with his girlfriend.

Mertz is a trooper who I’ve become a huge fan of. Team leader also.

I hope he heals up and comes back.

 

I can’t think of another player that came into a season with such little expectations, but played so well to earn the love of Gator Nation. Mertz for sure won me over. And to see him go down, man, I hurt for him. He has really represented Gator Nation proudly.

 

And that changes NOTHING...

 

They have trouble getting off the holding that goes unnoticed by the refs.

 

I would say it already is. I’m going to remember it. It was a loss in the end, but I think we gained a lot.

 

He came in to this hollowed out team with a bunch of freshman and took ownership this season in a special way.

With an improbable win 30 yards away from him, he charged between a trio of linebackers and got 11 yards out of sheer will. That run defied physics. (I checked and Tebow is not a shapeshifter.)

Then he played a snap without a collarbone. He left it all on the field.

I have no doubt FSU was caught napping in the 1st quarter yesterday because they were scheming Mertz. If we win tomorrow he will still be a big part of that.

I would add that should the reinforcements coming in (especially transfers who have watched him shine after switching to UF) create a new run for the Gators in coming years, a lot of it will trace back to Mertz and his last stand in what could have been a disaster of a rebuilding year in 2023.

 

He should have enough time to recover to suit up for Spring Practice. Two month is the standard recovery time for this injury. He should be able to start a full rehab in February.

 

The run to get a much needed first down where he hurt his collarbone was gutsy. He put it all on the line, but unfortunately paid the price for it. It was pure Tebowesque, but without a 240 lb body. Much respect for the effort.