2019 QB Graham Mertz signs with Wisconsin

Graham Mertz made it official on Dec. 19, signing his National Letter of Intent to play for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Mertz dominated Kansas prep football his final two years, earning a state championship one season while earning state runner-up in the next.

Enrolling for the spring semester, Mertz will get the ability to pick up Paul Chryst’s offense during practices in March and April.

The heralded prep quarterback may very well be the most hyped quarterback—if not player overall—to ever come to Wisconsin in the recruiting services era. He competed and was selected to the Elite 11 after participating in its Finals. He also participated in The Opening Finals and Rivals Five-Star Camp during the summer.

He told B5Q last week that he will enroll early at UW.

Rankings

247Sports (composite): Four stars; Grade: 0.9538; No. 102 player. No. 4 pro-style QB; No. 1 KS

247Sports: Four stars; Grade 90; No. 288 player overall in nation; No. 6 pro-style QB; No. 2 KS

ESPN: Four stars; Grade: 86; No. 43 player overall in nation; No. 2 pocket-passer QB; No. 10 Regional; No. 1 KS

Rivals: Four stars; 5.9 rating; No. 64 player overall in nation; No. 2 pro-style QB; No. 1 KS

Verbally committed on Oct. 7, 2017

Mertz joined Leo Chenal as the first two commits of this class over 14 months ago.

This recruiting process changed quickly over the course of a few months and heated up. 247Sports lists 19 offers from the who’s who of power five programs, including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon and Texas A&M.

After all of the offers, Mertz announced he would shut down his recruiting process and remain committed to Wisconsin in June—a major win for Wisconsin.

Video highlights

Bio (courtesy of UWBadgers.com)

High School: Four-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … Elite 11 quarterback … selected for The Opening Finals … 2018 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year … All-American Bowl selection as a senior … 2018 Thomas A. Simone Award winner as top Kansas City-area player … all-state as a junior and senior … first-team All-Eastern Kansas League as a junior and senior … led Blue Valley North to Class 6A state championship as junior and runner-up finish as a senior … completed 61.1% of his passes for 3,886 yards and a state-record 51 touchdowns as a senior, also rushing for 267 yards and 4 TDs … completed 62.0% of his passes for 3,684 yards and 45 TDs as a junior, adding 455 yards and 5 touchdowns rushing … finished career with 96 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions … four-year honor roll student … coach was Andy Sims

Personal: Parents are Ron and Amy Mertz … father played football at Minnesota from 1989-92 … sister Lauren Mertz played basketball at Kansas State in 2014-15 … sister Mya Mertz plays basketball at Drake