Ex-Florida QB Will Grier Dazzles In West Virginia’s Spring Game


Former Florida quarterback Will Grier impressed in West Virginia’s spring game on Saturday. The Mountaineers enter their first year under new OC Jake Spavital.


It appears that West Virginia is in good hands at the quarterback position.

Former Florida signal-caller Will Grier, whose status for the season opener remains in the air because his suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs usually carries an automatic suspension of one calendar year from the NCAA, gave Mountaineer fans a treat in the team’s annual Gold-Blue spring game at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown on Saturday.

New offensive coordinator Jake Spavital saw his new quarterback pick up where he left off at Florida, where he became the first Gators QB since Tim Tebow in 2009 to pass for more than 200 yards in three consecutive games. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 202 yards in what was essentially a scrimmage on Saturday.

More important than the numbers in the exhibition, though, was Grier showcasing the talent that made him a very valuable transfer on the free agent quarterback market. He connected with redshirt junior wide receiver Ricky Rogers on a nice 60-yard bomb, and he looked in command of an offense that should be fun to watch in 2017. Receiver David Sills was Grier’s favorite target, finishing the day with 6 receptions for 98 yards.

As good as Grier looked, though, we still don’t officially know if he will be able to run the offense from Week 1. Had he stayed at Florida, the automatic one-year suspension would have meant that he would not have been eligible to return until the Gators’ seventh game of the 2016 season. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound North Carolina native transferred to WVU, though, of course.

Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineers have remained confident that the fourth-year junior will be eligible for the opening game of the 2017 season provided he maintains the standards of eligibility. If that’s the case, there is no question that he will help this offense wreak havoc on opposing Big 12 defenses. He is clearly the better option compared to Chris Chugunov, who finished the day 10-of-22 passing for 98 yards while working with the second team. Chugunov could be solid in the future, but Grier is far more capable of leading the offense at this point.

By the time WVU opens fall camp, it will have a final ruling from the NCAA regarding Grier’s eligibility. Mountaineer fans certainly hope that the decision goes in their favor.

MORE: Ohio State Puts On Offensive Show In Spring Game