Quarterback battles are in full swing in the SEC East. Georgia, South Carolina and Florida will all see new opening day starters under center in 2015.
The Gators probably have the most intriguing dilemma as they try to find some consistency that has been sorely missed at the position since Tim Tebow. All future Gator quarterbacks will be linked to the 2007 Heisman trophy winner, and arguably one of the greatest college football players in history.
No disrespect to John Brantley, Jeff Driskel, or Treon Harris, but none even come close to what Tebow brought to UF not only in hardware and prestige, but mainly consistency.
The Driskel era ended before it even began. Injuries, major inconsistencies and the coaching carousel cost this one time Under Armour All-American any chance at bringing Florida back to national prominence. He was usurped by freshman Treon Harris at the end of the 2014 season and sat on the bench behind the true freshman who started the final six games for the Gators, going 4-2 in that span.
Will Grier
Driskel transferred to Louisiana Tech following the season and is currently battling for the starting position for the Bulldogs.
Harris does not have the starting job locked up going into 2015. First year head coach Jim McElwain has some options besides Harris, who was just as polarizing as Driskel.
Harris does have the benefit of in-game experience and pressure situations, but still makes some poor decisions.
Enter redshirt freshman Will Grier, a former Elite 11 and 4-star dual threat quarterback. Grier has been making strides in this spring and is now considered an ever so slight favorite to win the starting job over Harris.
Grier has good size and speed but is still young and still has some growing pains to get through before the season starts.
The Gators have plenty of weapons on offense and defense to compete for the East, but will need consistent quarterback play to make a deep run. Without Matt Jones in the backfield to take pressure off the passing game, and with an inexperienced offensive line, the Gator faithful might have to wait until 2016 to compete if no one emerges as a clear and consistent starter under center. Fortunately, Jim McElwain knows the position much better than Will Muschamp, and the future production should be indicative of that.
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