'19 KS QB Graham Mertz (Wisconsin Commit)

[IrishLion]

Driskell is Lou Avery?

Don Draper is the collective Notre Dame fandom.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Don Draper is the collective Notre Dame fandom.

Also the ND fanbase: Dick Whitman pissing his pants in the foxhole

 

[Luckylucci]

No, he's definitely different on social media since the merger. There's a lot less of the "get the scoop here, where we knew it a month ago!" every time something happens.

I don't think it's unreasonable to think that he's changed from previous years where he would throw 8 CB predictions on different RB's all in the same class, as if ND was a favorite to land every one of them at some point.

He's much better about his predictions these days. Props to him for not being terrible anymore.

There has certainly been a change in behavior. And for the better, so I'll give him that.

 

[dublinirish]

im still waiting for Driskell's Ben Shapiro-eqsue Political Podcast to drop. Bet he's got some hot takes for us all judging by his twitter retweets

 

[NDinBoston]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Told <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotreDame</a> fans this was likely coming last week. Two tight ends high on the board in 2020 are Kevin Bauman and Michael Mayer. Couple of big-time talents next cycle. Bauman joins Mayer on the offer list. <a href="https://t.co/omlItQ5CcJ">https://t.co/omlItQ5CcJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y4pQgcClvq">https://t.co/Y4pQgcClvq</a></p>— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomLoy247/status/1000176592881152000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ab2cmiller]

This is Graham Mertz’s thread. Not sure why two tight end offers are in here.

 

[NDinBoston]

This is Graham Mertz’s thread. Not sure why two tight end offers are in here.

LMAO, since post #75 nothing has been about Mertz (nearly 20 posts). Most of the recent comments have been about Loy. This tweet seems relevant to those comments as ND may have just lost out on a few 2019 TE recruits. Fine if you disagree. Doesn't matter to me. No horse in this race.

 

[connor_in]

This is Graham Mertz’s thread. Not sure why two tight end offers are in here.

LMAO, since post #75 nothing has been about Mertz (nearly 20 posts). Most of the recent comments have been about Loy. This tweet seems relevant to those comments as ND may have just lost out on a few 2019 TE recruits. Fine if you disagree. Doesn't matter to me. No horse in this race.

Irv! Clean-up on aisle five!

 

[BobbyMac]

Biggins and the 247 crew had Mertz at #3 after Day 1 of the Elite 11.

Sounds like 247 plans to move Mertz way up the QB list per the write up

Calzada was #2, McNamara was outside the Top 11

Freebie:

https://247sports.com/ContentGaller...-One-Top-11-Performers-118708100/#118708100_6

No. 3- Graham Mertz, Mission (Kan.) Blue Valley North. Committed to Wisconsin - We were tipped off by co-worker Barton Simmons that Mertz could be the guy to soar up the rankings following this event. The signal caller did not disappoint and has a ton of projectable tools. He has a college body right now, a smooth easy release, and one of the biggest arms in the event. It’s easy to see why the Wisconsin commit has several national programs beating down his door.

 

[BabyIrish]

Mertz made the final cut to the Opening this weekend.
Calzada did not.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

Loy has a new piece today, and you'll be shocked to learn Mertz is at the top of ND's board and he feels good about their chances, but ND is still looking to lock in a June visit, and Mertz still hasn't scheduled one, but ND will keep pushing.

This is getting pathetic.

 

[zelezo vlk]

If I had to guess, Mertz won't lock in a visit until immediately beforehand. But if he does visit, I think it's over.

 

[Irish YJ]

I'm just waiting for him to flip to UGA or OSU...

 

[Irish#1]

If I had to guess, Mertz won't lock in a visit until immediately beforehand. But if he does visit, I think it's over.

I'm just waiting for him to flip to UGA or OSU...

He'll visit, expectations will soar like an eagle and then without a hint, a day or two after the visit expectations will be vanquished in a heartbeat as he announces he's committed to UGA or OSU.

 

[ab2cmiller]

This article states what Badger fans have been claiming for some time now. Loy keeps claiming that ND and Mertz are trying to work out a time for a visit while Mertz has not told anyone "on the record" that there are any plans to take visits to other schools. Who knows what the truth is. Loy could be overly optimistic. Mertz may be trying to keep everything on the down low.

https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/platform/amp/2018/6/2/17420712/wisconsin-football-recruiting-graham-mertz-elite-11-finals?utm_campaign=buckys5thquarter&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

Before 2019 commit Graham Mertz takes his official visit to Wisconsin next weekend, the four-star quarterback is currently slinging the ball around Redondo Beach, Calif., at the Elite 11 Finals.

According to its official website, the Elite 11 Finals brings together 24 selected prep quarterbacks to “receive advanced, one-on-one quarterback instruction in a highly competitive setting” that lasts three days and involves both on and off-the-field instruction. The event’s participants compete with the hope to earn a place to participate in The Opening Finals later this summer.

Early on, it appears Mertz has impressed those in attendance. SB Nation’s Bud Elliott commented on Friday that the Kansas prep quarterback “looks damn good”at the event. Greg Biggins from 247Sports listed him as the No. 3 performer from Friday, noting the Badger commit “has a college body right now, a smooth easy release, and one of the biggest arms in the event.”

Many have seen the four-star quarterback’s rise nationally with his tweets noting offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Clemson and over a dozen other Power Five programs since verbally pledging to Wisconsin back last fall.

When asked by SB Nation’s Bud Elliott on Friday about his recruiting process, however, Mertz reaffirmed he is committed to Wisconsin.

“I love the fit,” Mertz said, “I love everything going on with it, and I don’t see anything changing.”

There is a solid relationship built between Mertz and Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst and quarterbacks coach Jon Budmayr, one that Mertz described as “great.”

“Chryst and Budmayr, they’ve been there from the start,” Mertz said. “It’s only getting stronger. Every time we get on the phone, every time they come see me, I love it.”

As previously reported by 247Sports and Rivals,Mertz told SB Nation that he will officially visit Wisconsin next weekend. That shapes up to be a big recruiting weekend for the Badgers, with several current class of 2019 verbal commits officially visiting as well. That list reportedly includes highly-touted offensive lineman Logan Brown, defensive lineman Keeanu Benton and athlete Marcus Graham, along with uncommitted 2019 linebacker Spencer Lytle also slated to officially visit.

When asked who he has bonded with the most so far in this class, Mertz mentioned tight end Hayden Rucci, who is also taking his official visit to UW during the same weekend from June 8-9.

“I’ve been talking with him a ton. We play Fortnite every once in a while so we’re getting pretty close,” Mertz said.

With his impressive performances at various regional camps earlier this year, from the U.S. Army National Combine in January,The Opening Regional in Atlanta and the Rivals 3-Stripe Camp, Mertz’s name is a hot commodity.

Mertz noted both Ohio State and Notre Dame as programs that are trying the hardest to flip his commitment away from Wisconsin.

However, Mertz said there are no plans right now to visit other schools.

What would it take for him to visit another program?

“Really just, if we’re out there, we might stop by,” Mertz said, indicating to SB Nation there would not be any shakiness with his commitment to Wisconsin. “We were up in Columbus for a Rivals camp, and we actually just swung by Ohio State for a day just to check it out, so it’s really if we’re up there, we’re going to go swing by and check it out.”

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Mertz is rated the No. 145 overall player and No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the nation.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

I'm just waiting for him to flip to UGA or OSU...

I mean, there is objectively more to go on for him committing to OSU than us at this point.

Stanford is also in communication, so that would be a glorious kick in the nuts.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I still hang on to the hope since we haven't expanded the board yet with additional QB offers.

 

[koonja]

I still hang on to the hope since we haven't expanded the board yet with additional QB offers.

That's a good point. And Loy has stuck his neck out before like this. Daelin Hayes, Shaun Crawford, Kahlid Kareem, Houston Griffith come to mind.

ISD also expects Mertz to visit, so I very much think he's told the ND people he wants to, but doesn't want people to know.

 

[Luckylucci]

This article states what Badger fans have been claiming for some time now. Loy keeps claiming that ND and Mertz are trying to work out a time for a visit while Mertz has not told anyone "on the record" that there are any plans to take visits to other schools. Who knows what the truth is. Loy could be overly optimistic. Mertz may be trying to keep everything on the down low.

https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/platform/amp/2018/6/2/17420712/wisconsin-football-recruiting-graham-mertz-elite-11-finals?utm_campaign=buckys5thquarter&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

Huh? Mertz has certainly told people he’s going to take visits “on the record” and has indeed taken visits.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Huh? Mertz has certainly told people he’s going to take visits “on the record” and has indeed taken visits.

Mertz himself is differentiating between

1. a planned visit where he makes a trip out for the sole purpose of visiting a school
2. a visit to a school just because it was close to an event that he was competing in.

You may say there isn't any difference. But there is obviously a difference in Mertz's mind, or at least that's what he's trying to sell to the recruiting analysts. So far he is saying he isn't planning any visits to any schools, but if he's close by, he may swing by the school.

While your statement is factually correct, I was speaking more to what Mertz is trying to convey since his Wisconsin commitment. He's not planning any trips for the sole purpose of visiting a school.

 

[Irish YJ]

He'll visit, expectations will soar like an eagle and then without a hint, a day or two after the visit expectations will be vanquished in a heartbeat as he announces he's committed to UGA or OSU.

I mean, there is objectively more to go on for him committing to OSU than us at this point.

Stanford is also in communication, so that would be a glorious kick in the nuts.

I imagine OSU and UGA will be hard charging at some point if they don't get a QB. I'm not going to assume he loves attention, but the longer this plays out, the more I think he'll end up somewhere that's not ND. Especially if he moves up the rankings as expected.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

fwiw, here's what Andrew Lind had to say about the Buckeyes post-Gunnell QB recruiting yesterday:

That said, I can't say there's a clear picture for what Ohio State does at this point. Obviously they'll try to continue to get Wisconsin four-star commit Graham Mertz, Michigan State four-star pledge Dwan Mathis and South Carolina four-star commit Ryan Hilinski to campus, but all appear to be 100 percent with their respective schools. They're still in wait-and-see mode with Kettering Archbishop Alter three-star Connor Bazelak, who I think they could still flip late in the process if he ultimately chooses another school (Kentucky is the favorite at the moment) this summer because Ohio State hasn't offered yet.

Mertz, in my opinion, is still the top target. Getting him to visit while he was in town was a great first step, but they certainly lucked into that more than he went out of his way to make it happen. I'm positive Mathis would be a Buckeye had they offered him last summer (like I said they should have following his two camp performances).

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/ohio-state-recruiting/2018/06/93535/grant-gunnell-crystal-ball

Per several posts from Ellis, he sees them in more of a wait-an-see mode, J.D. Dorian style.

 

[Huntr]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Touched on this the other day in my Elite 11 piece. Heard Mertz really likes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OhioState?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OhioState</a> OC/QB coach Ryan Day: <a href="https://t.co/SGfApC0FB5">https://t.co/SGfApC0FB5</a> <a href="https://t.co/QIhAQwBYnz">https://t.co/QIhAQwBYnz</a></p>— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1005810348912361472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2018</a></blockquote>

 

[stlnd01]

Is there any particular reason to think we're going to land this kid?
Time to move on other QBs before all the decent ones are gone?

 

[NDMIA]

Is there any particular reason to think we're going to land this kid?
Time to move on other QBs before all the decent ones are gone?

This is all presumptions but I think media members are not getting too much out of the Mertz camp and then from the staff perspective I think there are assumptions that the staff thinks he could flip because if they didn’t they would’ve offered more candidates. I think seeing no other offers going out to QB’s means that the staff are probably very confident in the path of recruiting Mertz right now and don’t want to mess that up or take away time with him by offering other dudes. They definitely like some other guys but I just think as long as the staff is just kicking tires on other QB prospects they are definitely feeling good about their chances with Mertz. A lot will be discovered between now and two weeks when Mertz will potentially have made two visits to Wisconsin and figured out what he wants to do regarding a Notre Dame visit.

 

[Luckylucci]

Is there any particular reason to think we're going to land this kid?
Time to move on other QBs before all the decent ones are gone?

Reasons for confidence. He’d be our QB in this class, if we offered when we offered Cade. He’s stayed in regular concract with the staff. Speaks very highly of Rees. Offensive fit.

At this point, I’d ride this out for a little longer. With Phil J and Drew Pyne lined up, we can afford to take time big game hunting. Mertz is a calculated shot to take. If we miss, we can get a quality program fit. We’re Staying in contact with quite a few.

 

[ab2cmiller]

He took his official to Wisconsin on 6/8/18. He's scheduled to be back this weekend on an unofficial. It will be interesting to watch if he does indeed hit up Wisconsin in back to back weeks. If he does, ND's chances of flipping him go down significantly. Loy has thrown out this weekend as a potential visit date for Mertz to make it to ND. We will see.

 

[Luckylucci]

Still getting caught up on some of the recent news as I was in Italy for the last two weeks. QB Brendon Clark has decommitted from Wake Forest and should visiting ND next weekend. He’ll be deciding again on July 4th after he visits a few places. So if this visit goes well, we might be getting some resolution here soon.

 

[dublinirish]

Still getting caught up on some of the recent news as I was in Italy for the last two weeks. QB Brendon Clark has decommitted from Wake Forest and should visiting ND next weekend. He’ll be deciding again on July 4th after he visits a few places. So if this visit goes well, we might be getting some resolution here soon.

humble brag haha

 

[arrowryan]

Still getting caught up on some of the recent news as I was in Italy for the last two weeks. QB Brendon Clark has decommitted from Wake Forest and should visiting ND next weekend. He’ll be deciding again on July 4th after he visits a few places. So if this visit goes well, we might be getting some resolution here soon.

You went on vacation without requesting time off from IE? That'll get you 2 weeks suspension without pay.