Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- 10 Takeaways: Thoughts on Florida football’s testing numbers
- Impact Analysis: Florida adds three-star linebacker
- Mitchell Q&A: An in-depth look at Florida football from a player perspective
- Five Florida flip targets for the Gator Nation to follow
- Ranking Florida’s chances with the June official visitors on offense
- Ranking Florida’s chances with the June official visitors on defense
- 10 Takeaways: Thoughts from Florida’s three June 7-on-7 sessions
- Early Entree Review: Westphal remains focused despite coaching change
Graham Mertz
Q. Graham, long time since Thibodaux, right?
GRAHAM MERTZ: Yeah, long time.
Q. Who are your threats on the outside that are going to make plays for you. You have a good tight end, is that right?
GRAHAM MERTZ: Yeah, yeah, on the outside we have a lot of great young guys coming back, going into their second year. I could talk about the receiver room all day, but we also brought in two transfer receivers, Chimere Dike from Wisconsin and Elijhah Badger from Arizona State. Great experienced players, know what it takes to win and great leaders, too. Excited about that room, man.
Q. Billy was just in here and talked about the importance of having the right guys in the room at the time. What he said that stuck with me was everybody on the team now picked us and we picked them. Do you see that cohesion now and everybody pulling in the same direction?
GRAHAM MERTZ: 100 percent. I think you see complete buy-in and as a team that’s what you need. You need players leading and you need buy-in, like I just said. This team we have right now, they’re passionate, they care about each other and they want to win and they’re fully bought into not only the scheme but Coach Napier’s vision of what this team could be.
Q. He hasn’t been with you for long, but Jason Zandamela came over from USC as a transfer. What have you seen from him?
GRAHAM MERTZ: He’s done a great job. He’s in a different lift group from me, in the morning, but I’m sure he can throw weight around and I’ve heard from not only players but coaches that he’s doing a fantastic job of learning the playbook, putting in the extra reps and growing not only as a player but as a person. So he’s done a great job.
Q. Graham, looking back a year ago at this time, you come down from Wisconsin. How much have you grown physically, mentally, and what do you think about the SEC after one year and then looking at this coming schedule?
GRAHAM MERTZ: Yeah, I mean, I’m going to start with just the SEC portion of that. I think the cool part about this wonderful league is just across the board the amount of passion the fan bases have, the players have, the coaches have for the university. I think that you go — anywhere you go and you walk into a facility, or for me a stadium, an opposing team’s stadium, you can feel that. You can feel the history and the passion. The only option is to respect it.
What was the first part of that? I missed the first part of your question.
Q. (Away from mic.)
GRAHAM MERTZ: Oh, man, yeah, I mean, I think that for me, as a person, coming down to Florida and experiencing something new, something different than Wisconsin was big for me, and it kind of pushed me into that area where I had to grow as a person. Whether that’s on the field, off the field, in my faith, in my family, all these different areas. You spend a lot more time by yourself when you are the newbie than the older person, so for me it was big-time.
What was the last part of the question? Sorry.
Q. (Away from mic.)
GRAHAM MERTZ: The schedule?
Q. (Away from mic.)
GRAHAM MERTZ: No, you can’t. I mean, this game you can — I always go you can simplify this game, it comes down to execution. That’s all it is. If this team executes better than we do, they’re going to win. If we execute better than they do, we’re going to win.
Anytime you can simplify this game and realize that I am — myself and my entire team, these coaches, we’re so blessed to put on this uniform, play this game. So every time we have an opportunity to go play it, it’s my job to respect that opportunity.
So for me it’s — yeah, people can call it whatever they want, label it whatever they want, but for us, we’re just excited for the opportunity.
Q. Graham, how would you rate when you look around the league the level of quarterback play right now in the SEC and as a competitor, do you — does that kinda help you push yourself?
GRAHAM MERTZ: Yeah, I spent a weekend with a bunch of ’em at the Manning Camp, and I think not only are they great quarterbacks, but they’re great people and I think that’s the cool thing that we now have a group chat with every quarterback that was there and we’re keeping up with each other, chopping it up. But for me, I think that the entire SEC. Each team has a quarterback that can rip it and that’s the kind of game that you want to play in. It will be a fun year.
Q. Graham, to have that graduate patch on your jersey this upcoming season, what does that mean to you and the second part of it, the question is the fact that you have central Florida, Florida State and Miami all within one state, the rivalry with those three schools being in your state?
GRAHAM MERTZ: Yeah, I mean, for me, transferring and taking a little longer to graduate just because of all the credits and everything, so for me it’s a blessing to finally get there and graduate from a place like Florida with a rich history, great school, great education.
Then, yeah, the state of Florida, the thing you see there is — which has been fun for me getting to be somewhere new and experiencing it, like I said earlier, but the passion and the people in Florida for the university is truly special. The fans do not like each other. I’ve fully embraced that, fully learned that. But, yeah, it’s been fun.
Q. As you’ve had a couple of years of experience now, how do you feel like your game has developed over these years?
GRAHAM MERTZ: I would say just overall knowledge of the game, and I think you go through phases at quarterback of your process of learning. It kind of starts with okay I get to college I learn the playbook. After I learn the playbook then I start focusing on defenses, after I learn about defenses, how to attack the defenses, you go back it your playbook. For me, my game has evolved to the point where I’ve seen a lot of defenses, fronts, coverages, pressures. So I don’t feel surprised when I see — it’s almost like a puzzle, like I’ve seen Ohio State ran that in 2021 in the third quarter. I can remember that because I lived all those experiences.
So for me the cool thing is being able to utilize that and, like, just being able to recall plays and instances that came up where I can help teach guys, like, yeah, they may have ran that coverage but here is another way to run it and show ’em a clip, stuff like that. It’s freed me up to teach a little bit more when you are a sixth year senior playing college football.
Q. Talk in the same vein of the SEC, you were at the Manning Passing Academy. How was it interacting with other SEC players?
GRAHAM MERTZ: Yeah, it was great. So Quinn and Jackson were playing pool for like five hours every day so they were the pool sharks of the trip, but it was fun to get to know the guys and spend time with them. We had fun, we would work out together and throw it around a little bit and it was a blast learning from Peyton and Eli and Archie, being on the field, working through their drills and guys applying things. It was definitely a fantastic experience.
Q. Graham, Danny was bumping around here today.
GRAHAM MERTZ: My guy.
Q. Your guy, before you were born I’m sure?
GRAHAM MERTZ: Oh yeah.
Q. 1996. He’s a fan of yours, you got three Heisman winners from that school. What’s it like to interact with him?
GRAHAM MERTZ: He has been an absolute blessing for me. I think it was my first or second month coming down to Florida, and I got a text and it was like, hey, “When do you want to sit down and talk a little bit — Danny.” And I’m like, I don’t know Danny — oh, I’m connecting the dots here. So from the first time I met him, the most genuine person that truly cared about Florida and me as a person. It’s been a fantastic relationship. He’s here somewhere right now and I cannot wait to see him, and I’m going to give him a big hug. He’s been absolutely amazing.
Shemar James
Q. Personal goals for this season? Things you have focused on this off-season?
SHEMAR JAMES: Yes, sir, just getting stronger, becoming a better leader, better communicator on the field and just becoming a better overall linebacker.
Q. Shemar, I have been asking everyone with Oklahoma’s interest in the SEC what can they expect on road games on Saturdays. Every road game is going to be a battle?
SHEMAR JAMES: Yes, sir. One of the most hectic environments. Playing in the SEC for two years now, you can see some very interesting stadiums, very interesting crowds, so it will be something fun to see.
Q. OU-Texas comes in with a heated rivalry, it’s one of the best in college football, but you have a rivalry. You go to Jacksonville every year, neutral site, just like OU-Texas, what’s it like playing Georgia in that atmosphere, a neutral setting?
SHEMAR JAMES: It’s amazing. You coming over the hill, coming down the hill it’s split, blue and red, so it’s a tradition that’s going to keep continuing to thrive and it’s amazing. It’s a lot of emotion coming into that game, yes, sir, for sure.
Q. Shemar, how has the linebacker room improved this off-season?
SHEMAR JAMES: Most definitely. It improved a lot with skill set, I would say, bringing in Pup Howard and freshmen like Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles. We bring in a lot of skill with a lot of vets in the room like myself, Derek Wingo and Ronald Moten. So I would say it’s improved skill wise and in leadership.
Q. What can you say about Ron Roberts and the impact he has had on the team and your game?
SHEMAR JAMES: Coach Roberts has brought a lot of experience and I would say personality to the room and to the unit as a whole. Coach Roberts comes in every day and works, instills in us to take it one day at a time and be intentional with your work.
Q. What’s the most fun playing SEC?
SHEMAR JAMES: The most fun about it is every game. You know you’re going to come in and play a tough team every single game, no matter who it is, no matter the record. Also the environment is hectic as well.
Q. Is the environment in the Swamp maybe the best?
SHEMAR JAMES: I would like to think so.
Q. Talk about the end of the season, five out of six games you guys see Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas, how do you guys prepare for that type of schedule? We know every week in the SEC is tough, but how do you look at your schedule this season?
SHEMAR JAMES: Take it one game at a time. You prepare differently for different opponents. You always come in on that Monday or Sunday and think about getting our heads down to go win this game. It’s just obstacles in our way and just gotta go in and get the win.
Q. When you think back to your old playing days, old stomping grounds, how proud are you of where you came from and when you think back to the playing days and excited about where you are now, what comes to mind?
SHEMAR JAMES: I miss it, life was simple. You get to go to high school, practice, come back home to your mom. I miss it, born and raised there, it will always be home to me. Faith Academy, Coach French. I miss it a lot.
Q. Coach French, him and any others that come to mind when you think about development, on and off the field, family members?
SHEMAR JAMES: Coach French and every support staff in that school, most definitely. Ms. Meredith, Ms. Shaw, Ms. Anderson. They all helped me along the way to get where I am now, so I’m thankful to them, yes, ma’am.
Q. What are your thoughts about the University of Texas coming into the SEC just from the outside looking at them?
SHEMAR JAMES: Most definitely. Texas coming in, bringing even more competition in the conference. I’m excited. I’m excited to play against Texas, go to Texas and get the job done.
Q. That’s going to be a fun day in Austin. Have you looked at tape as far as Quinn and what that offense does?
SHEMAR JAMES: No, sir, not that far down the line yet, but there has been talks about it and their style of offense as well.
Q. Shemar, who is a name or two on the Florida defense people might not know but by the end of the season they will have broken through and proven themselves?
SHEMAR JAMES: Yes, sir; Greg Smith, a freshman that came in, Jameer Grimsley, another freshman, DJ Douglas from Alabama. Got Trikweze Bridges, a transfer from Oregon. Those are some names that we have in the household right now that I believe is going to make a big splash this year.
Q. From a defensive standpoint, what have you seen from DJ Lagway, the freshman coming in, that has impressed you?
SHEMAR JAMES: He has a big arm. He can sling it 60, 70 yards, and I will say DJ comes in ready to learn. He’s always with Graham in the playbook, on the field going through progressions, drops. So I feel like DJ is going to be pretty good in the upcoming years.
Q. We talked to Keenan, the Tennessee linebacker yesterday and he missed most of the season with an injury, but stayed involved. You missed games last year because of injury. What were things you were doing despite being injured to stay involved with the team and stay ready and mentally prepared?
SHEMAR JAMES: Staying close with the team. You know, injuries can draw some guys away from the team, and I believe some guys consume themselves too much with football. That’s what they become. I would stay just staying around the team, encouraging the guys each and every week, each and every opponent we may have. I would say that, yes, sir.
Q. Every rivalry is different, right? If you had to describe to someone who has never been, LSU and Florida, that environment, those fans, how would you describe it?
SHEMAR JAMES: Crazy, from the pregame to the first quarter through the fourth quarter, it’s constant yelling, constant chirping from each side, the fans. It’s an environment that you just can’t describe in words, I would say, yes, sir.
Q. Do you have a particular favorite road site to go to or one that you don’t care for?
SHEMAR JAMES: I played at Tennessee my freshman year and it was pretty loud, fun to play there.
Q. What are the most important things the young guys can do to help the team in the fall, guys that haven’t played very much but can have a big role this season?
SHEMAR JAMES: Most important things they do is come to the facility and work every day. They never have excuses. When their body hurt they still going, giving 100%. I would say that’s what’s going to separate them and bring themselves to the spotlight.
Q. Shemar, talk about your growth as a football player and, again, Mobile, Alabama, having the rich tradition of football per capita, more NFL guys come out of Alabama and what that means to you in regards to your role models?
SHEMAR JAMES: Yes, sir. As far as improvement over the years, I would say I improved in my vocal skills, my leadership, and as a football player I would say my tackling, I would say. And the thing that you mentioned about taking pride in 251, in Mobile, Alabama, yeah. I come in the looker room every day and talk crap about it, saying we the best city, the best state in the country, so yeah, that’s the answer to that.
Q. As a linebacker, specifically, is it going to be nice playing LSU this year, not chasing around No. 5, Jayden Daniels, down on the infield?
SHEMAR JAMES: Ask that question again. I’m sorry.
Q. Going to be kind of nice you don’t have to chase around a scrambling quarterback, Jayden Daniels, scrambling quarterback?
SHEMAR JAMES: Yeah, he gave us a hard time last year. I unfortunately didn’t play in that game, but he gave us a hard time, yeah.
Q. What are things Graham has done to win the team over? It can be tough as a transfer to prove yourself to the guys but what are some of the things he has done?
SHEMAR JAMES: Yes, sir, Graham has connected with a lot of guys and I would say that’s one of the biggest things you need to do in a foreign environment, connect with the guys so when times get tough you can challenge those guys. I feel like Graham made a great impression on me and the rest of the players so I feel like that’s why Graham is one of the leaders that you guys see now.
Q. The hardest part for you being on the sidelines not being able to play I know you learned valuable lessons in high school watching, not being able to play, being injured. Tell me how that helps you and now that iPads are going to be on the sidelines as well so you can see realtime mistakes?
SHEMAR JAMES: Like you mentioned, being hurt at the end of my senior year, it kinda helped me in this journey that I had with the surgery and the knee injury that I had, and I will say it allows you to see the game outside of the game. See how things function outside of being on the field.
Just coaching up the young guys, guys that maybe not be fully confident in their abilities. I would say that’s something that I focused on during my off-time.
Montrell Johnson
Q. I had a different question but after hearing from Coach Napier, how is the video game going?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: It’s going extremely good, I feel like the Swamp looks great on it as well.
Q. How is the pre-season, a lot of pressure or excitement?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: In the looker room it’s very exciting. The upcoming schedule, I feel like the guys are using it as motivation and looking at it as 12 opportunities to prove ourselves to the nation.
Q. Montrell, for Oklahoma’s sake they know every SEC road game is going to be a dog fight. What’s it like playing on the road in the SEC and what’s the toughest venue you’ve played in so far?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: It’s tough playing on the road in the SEC. You gotta come with it, every time you do. The toughest stadium I played in is Tennessee by far, the checkerboard audience, the way the ground shakes when the fans are screaming and stuff like that. That made it very tough for us that year.
Q. What were some of the things that Graham did when he arrived at Florida to establish himself as a leader and went over to the locker room, and would you say he has evolved as a leader on this Florida team?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: Most definitely. His first year here I was quiet, because he just got there but that next year he had to fire up, I’m here now, I’ve established myself in the offense and he’s spoken out more and called guys out.
Q. What do you think the most exciting thing about SEC football is?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: Man, I think it’s the stadiums, the fans, I feel like the fans make it the most exciting. Just playing in the Swamp every home game, it’s very surreal to me all those fans out there cheering for me.
Q. Montrell, you had one of your compadres leave to Georgia. Do you relish this chance to get the ball more maybe?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: Ask that question again.
Q. One of your compadres left to go to Georgia. Do you relish the task of getting the ball more?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: I expect to get the ball more coming into the future this next season. I’m not too worried about it, because I feel like I can hold the load on my own and just going out there and making sure I play mistake-free football.
Q. Oklahoma and Texas play in the Cotton Bowel every year, neutral site. What’s it like playing in Jacksonville when you play that big game, neutral site, two fan bases? Explain to me what it’s like playing that game every year.
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: It’s great playing that game every year, knowing that you’re playing in an NFL stadium, the game is so big that you have to play at a neutral site makes it more amazing, and knowing that the stadium is half and half, blue and red, it makes the atmosphere more amazing.
Q. Who is somebody on the team that we may not know right now who has impressed you with the work they have done this off-season, could have a break-out year for Florida?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: I would say Jadan Baugh, our freshman running back. He’s been shocking me every single day the way he preps, coming to work every day, and the way he attacks. Him being a freshman is kind of surprising to me.
Q. What’s Coach Napier like on a regular basis, day to day?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: Napier is very chill. You always see him around the facility smiling, laughing with people. He’s a very chill individual.
Q. Do you have some skills you want to display this season that we haven’t seen in the past? Pass catching, anything?
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.: I would say my catching ability. Honestly, I just want to catch more balls out of the backfield and just get in space more and show my ability to, you know, make the first defender miss, stuff like that.
0 comments