Carter’s Corner: One More Time For Mertz And Dike, Asa Turner Update, More Gators Tidbits

Last Updated: March 27, 2025By


GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Graham Mertz was back in the middle of the action on Thursday during Florida’s Pro Day.

He was next to the weight bench, cheering on his teammates as they bench-pressed in front of more than 70 NFL scouts. He did the same as they went through running and position drills. And finally, when it was time for the quarterback drills, Mertz was back on the field throwing passes to Chimere Dike, Elijhah Badger, Ja’Quavion Fraziars and returning tight end Hayden Hansen.

“It felt amazing,” Mertz said.

The last time Mertz performed in front of an audience this large was in October at Neyland Stadium. Mertz’s college career ended that night in front of more than 100,000 fans when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee.

Less than six months later, Mertz looked himself tossing short, medium and deep passes to receivers inside the team’s indoor practice facility. Mertz did not participate in the athletic drills but dropped back and moved laterally with efficiency and comfort in the passing drills.

Mertz relished a final opportunity to pass to Dike, his former teammate at Wisconsin and at UF during the 2024 season. Dike raised his stock at the NFL combine last month with a blistering 4.34 in the 40-yard dash.

“To be able to finish it out together was really special,” Mertz said. “I’m so grateful for that. We never thought we would be down in Florida doing our Pro Day, but it’s cool that it worked out that way.”

Ditto for Dike.

“It was awesome,” Dike said. “We’ve been through so much. We have each other’s back for life. I’m thankful for our friendship.”

Meanwhile, here are some notables from Pro Day:

  • Defensive lineman Joey Slackman is training as an offensive lineman. Slackman said he received feedback from NFL teams that he might have more upside by changing positions. Slackman, who played offensive guard in high school, worked at guard and center Thursday. “I’ll do whatever a team wants me to be,” he said. “I’m not ruling out playing D-line either, but whatever position a team wants me to be, that’s what my role is.”

  • Former Gators offensive lineman Max Garcia, who played in the NFL from 2015-23 for Denver, Arizona and New Orleans, worked out at Pro Day. The 33-year-old Garcia has played 122 games in the NFL, including 62 starts. He did not play last season but said he is in the best shape of his life – dropping more than 30 pounds – and eager for an opportunity to play again. “I feel great and believe I can help a team,” he said. “I watched a lot of games last season and know I can still play at a high standard on the offensive line from what I saw around the league.”

  • The Gators had 18 players participate in Pro Day and 20 participated overall, including Garcia and former UF offensive lineman Michael Tarquin, who played at Southern Cal in 2023 and Oklahoma in 2024.

  • Defensive lineman Desmond Watson checked in at 6-foot-6, 464 pounds. Watson outperformed everyone on the bench press, lifting 225 pounds 36 times. That is three more reps than anyone did at the NFL combine. Meanwhile, Watson clocked a 5.93 in the 40-yard dash and registered 25 inches on his vertical leap.

  • Defensive backs Jason Marshall Jr. and Trikweze Bridges posted the fastest times in the 40, each clocking 4.43s.

  • Some news on Gators safety Asa Turner, delivered by head coach Billy Napier …




    Here are some social media posts from the day’s action, starting with defensive line drills from Cam Jackson. According to latest mock draft by ESPN+, Jackson is expected to be Florida’s first player picked in NFL Draft … 

Big Dez showing off his hops … 

 

Running back Montrell Johnson Jr. on the bench press … 

 

Here are those 36 reps for Big Dez on the bench …

 

Jason Marshall Jr. on his second 40-yard dash, trimming a 4.55 on his first attempt to a 4.43 …

A story from Zach Goodall of 247Sports.com on Trikweze Bridges’ productive Pro Day …
 

 




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