Grier confident improvements in offseason will help him in Gators' QB battle
Friday, August 7, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – More than 18 months into his college career, Will Grier has yet to make an appearance in a regular-season game for the Gators.
The redshirt freshman quarterback is currently in a battle with sophomore Treon Harris. Graduate transfer Josh Grady is also on the roster and taking reps.
Grier entered preseason camp Thursday itching to return to the practice field to try and gain some separation in the competition to start Florida's season opener Sept. 5 against New Mexico State.
“It would mean the world to me,'' he said of that possibility. “It's been a longtime coming. I'm really excited to just get out and play and work hard to put this team in the best position to be successful.”
Neither Grier nor Harris, who started six games as a true freshman and helped UF go 4-2 over that span, blew away head coach Jim McElwain on the first day of practice.
McElwain said the quarterbacks and receivers lacked sharpness Thursday and must show improved consistency throughout camp for the Gators to get where they want.
“I'm probably a little more critical because there's no reason to me you should ever drop a ball on routes-on-air,'' said McElwain, a quarterback in college. “Likewise, there's no reason to me that you should ever miss the throw on routes-on-air. It's on air. There's nobody else out there.
“Sometimes guys do it thinking it's a warmup. No. You have to understand that you've got to be critically detailed in that particular period. It's not something we take lightly.”
Grier appeared to own a slim edge over Harris at the end of spring camp. Harris missed time due to a family death.
McElwain downplayed any edge that Harris may have gained by starting six games a season ago, reminding everyone that it's a completely new offensive system that is still not fully installed.
Grier said there has been a learning curve to adjust to.
“Simply put, it's just a different offense. It's a different guy running a different offense,'' he said. “You've got some more down-the-field pass plays, going through three and four reads and progressions. It's a lot but it's easy to follow. It puts you in a situation that if you know it and execute it, it's a really successful offense.
“I think I fit this offense well.”
To prepare for the season, Grier added about 15 pounds in the offseason under Florida's new strength-and-conditioning program.
The next step for Grier is to prove those gaudy numbers in high school (14,565 yards, a state-record 195 touchdown passes) at Davidson Day High in North Carolina were not a fluke.
He continues to learn the offense and is quick to quiz offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier about the system's ins and outs.
“I really like how Nussmeier is very hands on,'' Grier said. “When we watch film and watch practice, he does a really good job of teaching in the film room, which I think relates to the field a lot. He knows what he is doing. He's done it and I feel really comfortable. I'm being a sponge as much as I can with him.”
Grier knows if he is going to win the job, he's going to have to earn it.
“I try my best to make sure these guys know that I'm trying to be perfect, limit my mistakes, and try to help them know all their assignments so we can be successful as a unit,'' he said of the offense. “I think I've improved in all areas. There is no question about that. Being able to develop with a lot of these coaches, I really think everything has improved.”
