26 Days Until the State Football Announcement
Gatorade 2018 - 2019: Player of the Year

Football - Kansas

athletes playing Football
The POY Logo
FOOTBALL

Graham Mertz

Quarterback
BLUE VALLEY NORTH HS
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS
SENIOR
Height: 6-FOOT-4
Press Release

Peak Performance

3886

passing yards

51

passing touchdowns
“Graham is as good as I’ve seen in my 16 years coaching. His arm strength and accuracy are amazing for a kid his age.”
Ryan Cornelson
Head Coach - Head Coach of Gardner Edgerton High
excellence star

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior quarterback passed for 3,886 yards and 51 touchdowns this past season, leading the Mustangs (9-4) to the Class 6A state championship game. Mertz missed nearly two full games early in the season with a knee injury and, upon his return, he reeled off seven straight games with at least five touchdown passes. A U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection, he was the Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year.

a graduation cap

Academic Achievement

Mertz has maintained a weighted 3.77 GPA in the classroom. He has verbally committed to play football on an athletic scholarship at the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 2019.

first place ribbon

Exemplary Character

Mertz has volunteered locally with the Jessie Rees Foundation’s Never Ever Give Up campaign which benefits children with cancer. He has also donated his time as a youth football coach.