Florida Gators to start QB Will Grier vs. East Carolina; Treon Harris will also play

In a simple flip-flop from a week ago, the Florida Gators announced Thursday that redshirt freshman Will Grier will start at quarterback Saturday against the East Carolina Pirates, while sophomore Treon Harris will still see action, just as Grier last week during Harris’s start against New Mexico State.

Grier, who did not play for the Gators in 2014, will make his first career start on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. He completed 16-of-18 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns last Saturday, also taking four carries for a net of 43 yards with another score.

Harris, who started the Week 1 contest, went 14 of 19 for 215 yards and two touchdowns, also gaining 23 yards on the ground. He started the game and played the first three series before ceding way to Grier, who finished the first half and started the second half. Harris reentered the game after a few series in the second half and played the duration of the game.

“They were OK in the last game. They weren’t great. They weren’t Earth-shattering by any stretch of the imagination,” head coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday. “They’ve got to get a ton better.”

It is expected that Florida will go with a similar rotation this week. Grier will likely start and throw 12-15 passes before Harris enters the game and finishes out the first half. Harris should then start the second half, unless McElwain decides otherwise, with Grier coming on later in the contest to end the game.

Side note: #Gators QB Will Grier will make his first career start against his dad's alma mater. Chad Grier played QB at East Carolina.

— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) September 10, 2015