No. 8 University of Florida will travel to Baton Rouge this weekend for its matchup against No. 6 LSU on Saturday evening without its starting quarterback.
Florida (6-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) will be without freshman quarterback Will Grier for the remainder of the 2015 season after failing an NCAA drug test prompted his suspension for the calendar year.
Florida has not officially released the drug Grier consumed.
Throughout the conference, Florida football coach Jim McElwain stressed that Grier made an “honest mistake,” saying the drug is available for anyone but faulted Grier for not consulting with the medical staff before taking it.
“I really hope that people can learn from my mistake, and I’m really sorry to everyone,” Grier said during the news conference.
McElwain said players must check with medical staff before they take any sort of medication, and the suspension is a result of NCAA regulations, not the team’s.
Intent on fighting the charges, McElwain said he found out about the suspension on Sunday but still considers Grier a part of the team.
McElwain said he has no intention of leaving Grier behind during practice this week, and the team will appeal Grier’s suspension to the NCAA.
Grier and the Gators lead the SEC East standings and are the only other undefeated team in the conference along with LSU (5-0, 3-0 SEC) and Texas A&M University (5-0, 2-0 SEC).
This season, Grier completed 106-of-161 passes for 1,204 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also tallied 36 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore quarterback Treon Harris is expected to replace Grier as starting quarterback for the Gators against LSU.
In 2015, Harris is 19-for-27 for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Harris started in the Gators’ first game of the season but was replaced by Grier during its second game. Since then, Florida has operated under a dual-quarterback system, featuring Grier and Harris.
The Tigers will have tape to prepare for the Gators’ offense and Harris.
“I’m pretty sure we can [get tape from the first game],” said senior linebacker Deion Jones. “We can see what type of style quarterback he is. He’s a mobile quarterback, so we can get a little footage from what he does.”
LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers’ game-planning will not alter much due to the change at quarterback for the Gators.
“[Florida] Coach [Jim] McElwain will have them ready to play,” Miles said. “Most of the time [a], second team quarterback can operate the offense as is. We expect the core plays are the same. Very capable running back. Would suggest passing be the same.”
During the past three weeks, LSU faced replacement starting quarterbacks against each of its opponents.
Syracuse University started its normal third-string quarterback. Eastern Michigan University started its No. 2 quarterback, and University of South Carolina started freshman walk-on Perry Orth.
The Tigers’ secondary is struggling this season thus far, having trouble containing wide receivers on a variety of routes, regardless who’s quarterbacking.
“They still kind of get us,” Jones said. “The quarterbacks that come in still get after it.”
In the most recent controversy with Florida’s quarterback situation, Jones said he isn’t too worried.
“We kind of know what their offense is about,” Jones said. “We will probably stick to the same thing that we have been doing. They aren’t undefeated just because of their quarterback.”