Name: Will Grier
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
Position: QB
Why did he redshirt?
Having had the chance to meet Will and his father out at the Elite 11 two years ago I can say that Will and his family expected a redshirt for his first season on campus. Grier went on to finish second at the Elite 11 and win another state championship in his senior year but with Jeff Driskel coming back for another season the plan was to always let Will grow and learn the offense his first season on campus.
Grier enrolled early and got into the playbook. He was also able to hit the weight room and is now hovering right around 200 pounds, above the 170-180 he played at in high school.
The previous staff believed that Grier was the quarterback of the future and the plan was to allow him to ease into college with a redshirt season.
Depth at the position:
Jeff Driskel is gone — transferred to Louisiana Tech — and returning starter Treon Harris returns for his sophomore season.
Grier will battle with Harris this spring for the starting job. The Gators did not sign a quarterback this recruiting cycle; so don’t be surprised if Jim McElwain doesn’t name a starting quarterback during spring practice. Florida needs both Harris and Grier to feel like they have a chance to win the starting quarterback spot because they can’t afford a transfer.
Of course, with a new staff, the slate is wiped clean. The old staff viewed Grier as the quarterback of the future — and he very well might be — but that doesn’t automatically mean the new staff will.
Player Evaluation:
Grier is a very accurate passer with an above average arm. He can run when he needs to — and showed off his running ability in high school — but is more of a drop back passer than a dual-threat.
Grier is the son of a coach and you can tell that he has taken advantage of that. He has a great football IQ and a very solid feel for the position that he plays.
2015 Prognosis:
Florida is basically replacing the entire offensive line, Dante Fowler, Matt Jones and still trying to find playmakers at wide receiver but no position battle will be watched quite like the one that Grier will be apart of.
Grier and Harris competed last summer and fall — with many believing that Grier was the better looking quarterback at that time — and Grier will get the chance this spring to prove that.
In the end, I think Grier wins out the starting quarterback job and will lead the Gators in the 2015 season.