Stunning start: NFL stars, fans go crazy on Twitter over QB Graham Mertz's play in Badgers' victory
From the Relive Badgers' opening-night victory with State Journal's in-depth coverage of UW's rout of Illinois series
Making his first start for the University of Wisconsin football team, redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz had Twitter buzzing Friday night, tying a school record with 17 consecutive completions to open the game while also completing 20 of 21 passes overall for 248 yards and five touchdowns in the Badgers' 45-7 season-opening victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
See what fans, talking heads and some of the NFL's top players — including former Badgers star J.J. Watt — were tweeting about the Kansas native's eye-opening play:
Lighting it up!
Mertz pic.twitter.com/XYMH2VgAhh
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 24, 2020
Take it from an expert
That man @GrahamMertz5 going crazy tonight!
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) October 24, 2020
No dodging his talent
OMG! Graham Mertz is really good! pic.twitter.com/BjndQztIVz
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) October 24, 2020
Wide awake now
Its 3:40 AM and i was going to go to sleep at hafltime but Badger football and Graham Mertz have reminded me thats not possible
— Brevin Pritzl (@BrevinPritzl) October 24, 2020
At least!
Graham Mertz is winning minimum three Heismans.
— Brandon Walker (@BWalkerSEC) October 24, 2020
Among the best
Graham Mertz is already the best QB Wisconsin has had since Russell Wilson.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) October 24, 2020
The highest honor
If Graham Mertz wins a Heisman or National Championship, we have to get a special edition Merkts cheese spread with his name on it.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) October 24, 2020
Signs pointed to success
I was at the All-American Bowl all week in 2019. To me, Graham Mertz (a former #NotreDame target) was by far the most impressive QB there. Better than Spencer Rattler and Sam Howell. Cool to see him killing it tonight in his first career start.
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) October 24, 2020
Fan club growing
I have a crush .... on Graham Mertz ...
— Ally Melby (@AllyyMelbyy) October 24, 2020
That is all.
Bold prediction
Graham Mertz is the 1st overall pick in a few years. He’s a freak
— Stu (@StuYeWest1) October 24, 2020
Making his case
Damn graham mertz like y’all should have been playin me lol
— Jordan Taylor (@JMTaylor11) October 24, 2020
Close enough
Graham Mertz pic.twitter.com/kGe1LzygP5
— Dan Szpek (@szpek64) October 24, 2020
Bummer for Buckeyes
Can we all just give a collective sigh of relief that Graham Mertz will not be Justin Fields’ replacement
— Parker (@ParkerChurchil1) October 24, 2020
A little too quick
Graham Mertz probably never went 16-16 in high school for @BVNorthFootball because he had so much zip on his throw that he’d hit a few guys in the chest before they even knew they were in the game.
— Andrew Robinson (@robinsonandrew) October 24, 2020
Stunning resemblance?
Tyler Herro and Graham Mertz look eerily similar pic.twitter.com/TS67GRzKWe
— Greg (@kolbe20) October 24, 2020
Don't lose perspective
Ok, so Graham Mertz has been compared to Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield so far tonight. Let’s all take a breath and remember he’s playing Illinois.
— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) October 24, 2020
Etched in the record books
Graham Mertz finished with 17 straight completions. That is tied for the most consecutive completions in a game in Wisconsin history. (Tanner McEvoy vs Western Illinois in 2014)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2020
His 17 straight completions are also the 3rd-longest streak in a conference game in Big Ten history. pic.twitter.com/ASXT7APXr0
Just the beginning
The hype is real. Graham Mertz has poise, accuracy, a pretty spiral, looks like a good leader in the huddle. With Mertz developing and the bumper recruiting crop coming in, we could be seeing the beginning of a special era of #Badgers football.
— Doug Russell (@DougRussell) October 24, 2020
It could happen
Is Graham Mertz the best quarterback to ever play football?
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 24, 2020
In this Series
Relive Badgers' opening-night victory with State Journal's in-depth coverage of UW's rout of Illinois
Chris Doyle | Wisconsin State Journal
Online Sports Editor
Sports Web Editor, Social Media Coordinator, and Video/Podcast Producer for the Wisconsin State Journal.
Tom Oates grades the No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers' performance in their 45-7 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini in their season opener Friday night at Camp Randall Stadium.
A quick look at the 14th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers' 45-7 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini Friday night in the season opener at an empty Camp Randall Stadium.
In the Badgers’ dominant, 45-7 win against visiting Illinois, Mertz tied a program record with five touchdown passes and lived up to all the hype that’s built around him since he committed to UW in 2017.
Years from now, hundreds of thousands of UW football fans will say they were there for the debut of quarterback Graham Mertz. They'll all be lying.
The junior bounced back from his mistake with two key plays on the ensuing series before going on to finish his productive night with seven catches for 72 yards and three touchdowns.
From redshirt freshman Graham Mertz's coming out party to the UW defense's dominant start, relive all the action from the 14th-ranked Wisconsi…
As the Twitterverse marveled at Graham Mertz’s throws, UW players were simply seeing what they always have.
The Decatur Herald & Review's Joey Wagner shares his perspective from the other side of the action after the Badgers routed Illinois 45-7 in Madison on Friday night.
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Graham Mertz has tested positive for COVID-19, sources told the State Journal on Sunday. As with all positive tests that occur using the daily rapid antigen tests, Mertz will be taking a PCR nasal swab test in order to confirm his diagnosis.
Mertz was 20 of 21 passing, setting a program record for completion percentage (.952), and tied program records with five touchdown passes and 17 consecutive completions.
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UW athletic director Barry Alvarez admits he was beat down 10 weeks ago when the Big Ten called off its 2020 football season. Now, with the opener scheduled for Friday night, Alvarez is excited to watch the Badgers play.
Jon Dietzen is expected to make his 33rd career start and his first at right guard. It’ll be his first football game since the Pinstripe Bowl against Miami on Dec. 27, 2018, a gap of 666 days between games.
The Big Ten will start playing football at what normally would be midseason.
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The Illini collected 28 turnovers last season — 16 fumble recoveries and 12 interceptions — to lead the Big Ten.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to talk about the Badgers' season opener against Illinois on Friday night.
You can't fault University of Wisconsin quarterback recruit Graham Mertz for knowing what he likes.
Wisconsin State Journal photographer Steve Apps captured all the action inside an empty Camp Randall Stadium Friday night as redshirt freshman…
Wisconsin State Journal reporter Jim Polzin asked Badgers fans on Twitter what they thought of quarterback Graham Mertz's play and No. 14 Wisc…
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