Jim McElwain Names Will Grier Starting QB vs Kentucky, Will Still Play Treon Harris

Coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday he hasn’t settled on a starter for Saturday’s game at Kentucky. Towles admitted the play was not good enough.

“The guys were into this game and played their hearts out”. “I’m sure [Kentucky] feels like they had that game won a year ago”. The Wildcats are coming off an emotional win at South Carolina and they’re coming home to what will be a loud and energetic crowd seeking lots of Gator blood after 28 straight years of futility against UF. For 29 consecutive years now, the Gators have beaten the Wildcats to continue the longest active head-to-head winning streak in all of college football.

East Carolina (yikes!) torched Florida for 333 yards through the air in a 31-24 loss. That’s not surprising as Grier was shaky at times against Kentucky, finishing 13-of-22 for 125 yards and one interception.

The Gators held Kentucky’s quarterback Patrick Towles to 8-of-24 passing for just 126 yards and allowed just 115 yards rushing behind those half-dozen sacks. His lone mistake was an end-zone interception by Kentucky’s J.D. Harmon that led to a field goal, but it could have been worse. But he’s not the only Gators freshman to do in the Vols, whose recent stretch of struggles against Florida can be attributed, in part, to their inability to capitalize on offenses entrusted to an inexperienced quarterback.

In the Gators’ season opener against Texas A&M, Grier was 16 of 18 for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

“To be honest with you, I think it’s just a product of everybody relaxing, not panicking”, Dawson said. “Obviously, he has a lot of growing to do”. In general, when you’ve got a good game plan and the guys go out there and execute it and they understand it and are where they need to be and play to their ability, then I like our chances.

Saturday’s game certainly will be a learning experience for the true freshmen who played a role, including offensive tackles Fred Johnson and Martez Ivey and defensive end Cece Jefferson, who had five tackles and half a sack.

Kentucky hasn’t beaten Florida in football since 1986. When you look at similar opportunities that the quarterbacks have had, Grier, by and large, has been able to place balls with more finesse further down the field and gotten throws where only his receiver could catch them.

“We talked about it all week. The fans are upset and want better play, and so do I”. Give [Kentucky] credit for that because they had some explosive runs.

“I wish we could have built on the lead a little more in the second half and really put some stuff together, but we’ll watch it, try to get it all corrected and get ready for Tennessee”.