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Two Gators Earn SEC Player of the Week Honors in Week 7

Quarterback Graham Mertz and kicker Trey Smack III earn SEC Player of the Week honors for their role in Florida's comeback win over South Carolina in Week 7.

Brandon Carroll

Two Gators Earn SEC Player of the Week Honors in Week 7
Two Gators Earn SEC Player of the Week Honors in Week 7 /
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Two Gators landed on the SEC Football Players of the Week List for their performance in Florida's 41-39 triumph over South Carolina in Week 7.

Quarterback Graham Mertz and kick Trey Smack III were named SEC Offensive Player of the Week and SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively.

Mertz earns the first weekly award of his Gators career following a career-best outing in which he completed 30 of his 48 attempts for 423 yards and three touchdowns against the Gamecocks. 

The performance elevated the Florida offense in a way many believed Mertz couldn't when he transferred from Wisconsin during the offseason, as the passer worked all three levels of the field at the most effective clip through his seven-game stint in Gainesville. 

Within the impressive showing, the Overland Park, Kansas, native led two late-game scoring drives to erase a ten-point fourth-quarter deficit before tossing a 21-yard game-winning touchdown to wideout Ricky Pearsall.

While Mertz starred in the comeback, Florida's placekicker, Smack, turned in another efficient afternoon to put the Gators in a position to take the lead late in the contest.

Knocking through his first four field goal attempts and all three extra points on the day, Smack's 15 total points kept UF afloat against a high-octane South Carolina attack on Saturday afternoon. He finished 4-for-5 — as his final attempt was blocked with 11:42 remaining in the contest — and a long of 54 yards.

The sophomore improves to 11-for-12 and a perfect 14-for-14 on point after tries since taking over for Adam Mihalek in Week 3 against Tennessee.

The SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week honor is the second of the 2023 campaign for Smack, who was also named to the list following his 5-for-5 performance in the Gators' Week 4 win over Charlotte.

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Brandon Carroll
BRANDON CARROLL

Brandon Carroll is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. He serves as the lead reporter for the Florida Gators FanNation-Sports Illustrated website, covering football, basketball and recruiting. When he isn't hard at work, he enjoys listening to music, playing flag football and basketball, spending time with his friends and family, and watching an array of television shows. Follow him on Twitter @itsbcarroll.

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