2019 QB Graham Mertz shuts down recruiting process, reaffirms Wisconsin commitment

Four-star quarterback Graham Mertz reaffirmed his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday evening, tweeting that he has shut down his recruiting process and will stick with his verbal pledge to UW.

Mertz’s decision closes the book on any speculation about where one of the nation’s top signal callers for the class of 2019 will end up. The Kansas native previously tweeted out offers from such Power Five schools like Michigan, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Notre Dame, among others.

Regarding the latter two programs mentioned, Mertz told SB Nation’s Bud Elliott at the Elite 11 Finals on June 1 that the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish were trying the hardest to flip his commitment.

Now according to his tweet, all doubt of said commitment to Wisconsin has been removed.

Mertz officially visited Wisconsin last weekend alongside fellow Badger commits Hayden Rucci, Logan Brown, Joe Tippmann, Keeanu Benton and Marcus Graham—with uncommitted recruits Spencer Lytle and Bryce Benhart also in Madison.

Rated a consensus four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals, Mertz recently received a bump in his status on Rivals this week—as he is now the No. 81 player and No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the nation according to that particular recruiting service.

247Sports composite rankings list Mertz as the No. 86 player overall and No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the country, while ESPN ranks him as the No. 40 player overall and No. 2 pocket passing quarterback.

The future Badger was also selected to the 2019 edition of the Elite 11 and will participate in The Opening Finals later this summer.

Wisconsin’s class of 2019 recruiting class currently holds 10 verbal commits overall, with a big weekend shaping up. More on this from B5Q on Friday.