Florida Gators Redshirt QB Will Grier Losses NCAA Appeal over PED

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

In mid-October, the college football world was shocked by the news Florida Gators redshirt quarterback Will Grier was suspended for a calendar year after failing a drug test for performance enhancing stimulants. The news coming Friday evening confirmed the worst for Gator Nation, Grier had lost his appeal.

Grier redshirted in 2014 due to a back injury but challenged returning starter, sophomore quarterback Treon Harris, for the right to open the season against New Mexico State as the team’s starter. Harris won the job but both signal callers split time in the huddle with Grier eventually winning the right to run the Gator’s offense. Florida jumped out to a 6-0 start being one of the bigger and better surprises of the 2015 college football season under first-year head coach Jim McElwain.

When news broke of Grier’s suspension on Monday, Oct. 12, two days after Florida upended Missouri 21-3 on the road, the Gators were beginning preparations for their biggest game of the season, a showdown against then- No. 6 LSU. The 6’2”, 200 pound, North Carolina native cut his season short averaging 200 passing yards per game tallying 1,204 yards with 10 touchdowns, both continued team leading statistics despite missing four games.

Grier’s NCAA appeal reportedly took place on Monday. Heading into the appeal the odds were not on Grier’s side of getting a reversal or a reduced suspension based on lack of knowledge. When Grier’s suspension was announced, he took responsibility for his actions stating he “took an over-the-counter supplement that had something in it” and “did not check with the [Florida] medical staff.”

The long-term effect of Grier’s suspension is six games missed during the 2016 season as he completes the 365 day suspension. He also comes out of the suspension as a junior, not as a sophomore as part of the NCAA punishment for testing positive for a banned substance. Grier could opt to redshirt the remaining games of the 2016 season coming back in 2017 as a junior with two full seasons to play instead of having his 2017 campaign being his senior year and just taking the field for half of the Gator’s 2016 season.

Florida has pushed on without Grier compiling a 9-1, 7-1, record and winning the SEC East division title. The No. 8 Gators take on Florida Atlantic on Saturday and then finish up their regular season with their annual showdown against in-state rival Florida State. The Seminoles are the No. 14 ranked team in the nation with an 8-2, 6-2 record.

Photo credit: foxsports.com; No. 7 Will Grier celebrates a Florida touchdown.