Well here is a curveball for the undefeated Florida Gators. Quarterback Will Grier will reportedly be suspended by the program for the rest of the season for a violation of NCAA rules. Mike Huguenin of GridironNow.com was first to report the news of the suspension, via Twitter. GatorBait.com had a second report with the same news.
Florida will announce this afternoon that QB Will Grier has been suspended for the rest of the season for a violation of NCAA rules.
— Mike Huguenin (@MikeHuguenin) October 12, 2015
Florida is expected to hold a press conference later this afternoon to address this news. Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com reports, via Twitter, Grier tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. The NCAA penalty for using performance enhancing drugs leaves no wiggle room. Student-athletes lose one full year of eligibility for the first offense and must be held out of competition for a full season. A second offense involving PEDs makes a player permanently ineligible. It is expected the one-year suspension for Grier would carry over to approximately October 12, 2016, but that will have to still be confirmed.
Grier has played in all six games for Florida so far, completing 65.8 percent of his pass attempts for 1,204 yards and 10 touchdowns with just three interceptions. His play has helepd Florida jump out to a clean 6-0 record with some key games to be played. Florida visits LSU this weekend and a big SEC East contest with Georgia is coming up next week. With Grier out of the mix, Florida will now put its hopes in the hands of sophomore Treon Harris. Harris has appeared in four games this season and he saw action in nine games a year ago in replacing Jeff Driskel.
We will update this story once more information is confirmed and announced.
UPDATE (2:39 p.m.): Grier has addressed the media regarding his suspension, saying the failed drug test was the a product of an over the counter supplement he purchased. He will appeal the NCAA suspension, but if that appeal is rejected he will indeed be out of action for the rest of this season and the first six games of 2016. He would also return as a junior after losing eligibility. Head coach Jim McElwain said he learned of the failed drug test on Sunday, despite some message board chatter cropping up earlier this weekend.
UPDATE (2:54 p.m.): The supplement that led to the suspension was Ligandrol, a banned substance. It is not classified as a steroid but is a performance-enhancer.