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True freshman quarterback Graham Mertz made his debut in the University of Wisconsin's 61-0 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday, completing 4 of 5 passes for 35 yards and leading a scoring drive during his only series.

“It was great,” Mertz said. “I couldn’t ask for a better experience. I was just glad to get my first snaps at home, too. It was a blast.”

But it might be one of the few times this season that Badgers fans see the highest-rated quarterback recruit ever to come to Wisconsin, as Mertz acknowledged after the game that he’ll likely redshirt this season. He’s allowed to play in four games without losing a season of eligibility.

“They said that really to use those four would be pretty sweet,” Mertz said. “I am redshirting. It’s more just getting my opportunity in those four games.”

Later, Mertz said he hasn’t had a formal discussion with the coaching staff about redshirting. Still, that seems like a likely scenario considering how well Coan has played through the first two weeks of the season.

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“If the circumstances were right, we wanted to get him in, and fortunately they were,” Chryst said. “First snaps, first pass, all those things are good to get, and I thought he did some good stuff with it, and it's important.”