Gators QB Will Grier suspended indefinitely; Treon Harris to start at LSU
Monday, October 12, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Will Grier, whose steady play has helped the No. 8-ranked Gators get off to a 6-0 start, has been suspended indefinitely for the use of an over-the-counter substance banned by the NCAA.
Grier made an appearance at head coach Jim McElwain's delayed Monday press conference and addressed the suspension.
"I really hope people can learn from this and learn from my mistake,'' an emotional Grier said. "I'm really sorry to everyone. Really sorry."
With Grier unavailable for Florida's SEC showdown at No. 6-ranked LSU on Saturday, sophomore Treon Harris will start. Harris started the season opener against New Mexico State and finished 14 of 19 for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
Grier has emerged as Florida's starter since making his first career start in a 31-24 victory over East Carolina on Sept. 12. He has completed 106 of 161 passes (65.8 percent) for 1,204 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Grier was 20 of 33 for 208 yards in Saturday's 21-3 victory at Missouri.
Per NCAA rules, student-athletes who fail an NCAA-administered drug test are "withheld from competition for a full season." McElwain said the school plans to appeal. If Grier missed a full year, he would be eligible to return midseason 2016 and be classified as a redshirt sophomore.
"It's something that he feels horrible about. It's an honest mistake and yet can be prevented by just checking with our medical staff,'' McElwain said. "Want everybody to understand that this is a mistake we'll learn from. We feel for him. We feel his pain.
"He had a chance to address the team and spoke from the heart. For this football team, it means next guy up."
As news broke of Grier's suspension Monday afternoon, LSU coach Les Miles reacted during a press conference in Baton Rouge.
“We expect the core plays are the same,'' Miles said. “Very capable running back. Would suggest passing be the same.”
Chad Grier, Will's father and his head coach at Davidson Day School in North Carolina, posted a tweet late Monday afternoon:
Thank you for the great support of Will and our Family! Honest mistake but a mistake nonetheless. Proud of him for owning it. Jeremiah 29:11
— Chad Grier (@ChadGrier_) October 12, 2015
Check out GatorZone.com later today for more on this story.
