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Gators Get Their Quarterbacks

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By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com
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Will Grier and Treon Harris give Florida a significant boost at the most important position on the field.

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Well, competition is the best motivator, and there’s no question those guys will both work.

~Will Muschamp

A program long known for dynamic playmakers, Florida finished 109th in the nation in passing in 2013, 118th in 2012 and 89th in 2011. The Gators have fought just to find consistency under center post-Tim Tebow, with injuries playing a key role in those struggles. Looking ahead to this fall, Florida returns now healthy-senior Jeff Driskel and sophomore Skyler Mornhinweg. Head coach Will Muschamp and new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper have added two elite signal callers as a part of their 2014 recruiting class.

North Carolina-native Will Grier committed to the Gators back in December of 2012 and, in December of 2013, enrolled early at Florida. At 6’3”, 185 pounds, Grier is ranked as the nation’s second-best dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com, the third-best by ESPN.com and as the fourth-rated quarterback overall by Scout.com. All of his measurables fit the bill. Grier, the son of a coach, is also regarded as a very cerebral player. He was the named the U.S. Army and Parade Magazine National Player of the Year.

Former Florida State commit Treon Harris has accolades and a skill set quite similar to Grier. He is valued as a top two-way talent by all of the major recruiting services, third as a dual-threat signal caller per Rivals. A long verbal to the Seminoles, Harris stunned Florida State on National Signing Day in favor of the Gators. The Booker T. Washington becomes another south Florida pull for UF. Harris has been clocked at a 4.48 in the forty yard dash.

These two prospects give Florida a significant boost at the most important position on the field.

cWell, competition is the best motivator, and there’s no question those guys will both work. They’re both winners,” Muschamp explained. “Treon won two state championships there at one of the best high school programs in the country. And I’ve known his father, Ice, for a long time. He does an outstanding job. We’re excited about Will on campus and Skyler and Jeff, and you want to have four quarterbacks on scholarship. Having both of those quality players is exciting.d

There is optimism around the offense for the Gators — and for good reason. Roper’s Duke attack finished fourth in the ACC in total offense a year ago with over 426 yards per game. The Blue Devils scored 48 points against Texas A&M in Roper’s final game with the program. Florida’s new offensive coordinator also brings SEC familiarity with him to Gainesville, having worked at Kentucky, Ole Miss and Tennessee. In Grier and Harris, he has potentially brought the future as well.

BJ Bennett – B.J. Bennett is SouthernPigskin.com’s founder and publisher. He is the co-host of “Three & Out” with Matt Osborne and Kevin Thomas on the Southern Pigskin Radio Network and is the sports director for multiple ESPN Radio affiliates based throughout southeast Georgia. @BJBennettSports


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