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Will Grier transfers from Florida to West Virginia

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Former Florida Gator quarterback Will Grier has transferred to West Virginia University. He’s under a 12-month suspension for taking a banned substance.

Grier was a major reason the Gators got off to a 6-0 start in the 2015 season. He threw for 1,204 yards and 10 touchdowns with only three interceptions before he failed a drug test in October.

The Gator offense struggled mightily thereafter, managing to split their final eight games, 4-4. They lost their final three games by the combined score of 97-24, including a 27-2 setback against Florida State and a 29-15 defeat by Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

A few questions arise for the status of Grier. Players normally must sit out at least one year after transferring, but with Grier under suspension, West Virginia may not have him available before October 2017.

Gators’ Coach Jim McElwain is looking for someone to take the helm for his 2016 offense. With Treon Harris apparently moving from quarterback to wide receiver, his top two choices are transfers.

Luke Del Rio came from Oregon State and Austin Appleby from Purdue. Freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask are the future.

Whenever Grier does play, he will become the second high-profile transfer to join the Mountaineers in four years. Clint Trickett transferred from Florida State in 2013 and in less than two seasons passed for 4,900 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Bob Sparks is President of Ramos and Sparks Group, a Tallahassee-based business and political consulting firm. During his career, he has directed media relations and managed events for professional baseball, served as chief spokesperson for the Republican Party of Florida as well as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Attorney General of Florida. After serving as Executive Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Charlie Crist, he returned to the private sector working with clients including the Republican National Committee and political candidates in Japan. He lives in Tallahassee with his wife, Sue and can be reached at [email protected]

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