Florida jumped out to a hot start in Jim McElwain’s first season as head coach. Despite low preseason expectations, the Gators started with a 6-0 record, including wins against Tennessee and Ole Miss which, at the time, ranked No. 3 overall.
Florida’s defense wasn’t a surprise given that it was the bright spot on several disappointing teams under former head coach Will Muschamp, rather the offense’s success played the difference in the team’s first six games. That coincided with the emergence of Will Grier, a former 4-star prospect who rated as the No. 2 pro-style quarterback for the 2014 national recruiting class.
Grier threw for 1,204 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions on 106-of-161 passing. He averaged a 65.8 completion percentage, 145.43 passer rating and 7.5 yards per pass attempt.
The redshirt freshman was arguably Florida’s best quarterback since Tim Tebow’s departure in 2009 and looked to have a bright future in Gainesville. However, Grier was suspended for one year after it was revealed that he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs on Oct. 12, which was effective five days before Florida’s game at LSU.
The Gators would lose that game 35-28 and went 4-4 without Grier, which included being outscored 97-24 in their final three games. Treon Harris, who started in 2014 and was replaced by Grier in the preseason, threw for 1,676 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions while posting a 50.6 completion percentage on 119-of-235 passing.
That wasn’t enough for Harris to retain the starting job in 2016 as many expect him to switch to wide receiver. The Gators won’t have Grier as an option either when his suspension finishes in October after he decided to transfer to West Virginia earlier this week.
So what does that leave Florida with?
Many expect Oregon State transfer Luke Del Rio, son of Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio, to be the front-runner for the starting job. Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby is also in the mix as well as early enrollees Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask.
Del Rio had the chance to breakaway from the pack in Florida’s first scrimmage last Friday, but according to McElwain, all four quarterbacks are still being considered.
“All four guys had their moments,” McElwain told the Miami Herald. “I think Austin probably stepped up and did some things in situational stuff that was good to see. I though the team moved really well with Luke behind it, and both Kyle and Feleipe had their moments. You can tell there’s some arm talent there.”
Del Rio signed with Alabama as a walk-on in 2013 before transferring to Oregon State in 2014 to play for Mike Riley, who left the following offseason for Nebraska. He threw for just 141 yards on 8-of-18 passing in three games as a redshirt freshman for the Beavers before transferring to Florida last offseason.
After spending a year with the team, many believe that Del Rio’s familiarity with the offense gives him the advantage. However, given his lack of experience, it’s hardly worth getting too excited about.
Sure, Grier spent a year riding the bench before emerging as Florida’s best quarterback option in years. But he was one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects, not a seasoned backup who failed to make an impact at two previous stops. Appleby has had more success by comparison, but was hardly a standout even when given the majority of reps at quarterback for Purdue in 2014.
None of Florida’s active quarterbacks provide enough reason to think that the Gators will repeat as division champions with both Tennessee and Georgia looking like potential national contenders.
Florida was fortunate to survive its game against the Vols thanks to a stellar late-game drive by Grier. Things would’ve been different had that game been scheduled after his suspension.
Grier was the biggest factor in the Gators’ late season struggles and he will be missed once again as Florida struggles to find a consistent starting quarterback.
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