Source: Florida's Will Grier suspended for season after positive PED test
— -- Florida Gators quarterback Will Grier has been suspended for the season for violating NCAA rules, according to a source.
Grier tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, a source said. The positive test carries an automatic suspension of one calendar year from the NCAA, which would mean he would not be eligible to return until Florida's seventh game of the 2016 season.
Grier's positive test was the result of something the quarterback took over the counter that he did not get approved by Florida trainers, Grier said Monday in a news conference. The school plans to appeal the suspension.
News of Grier's suspension was earlier reported by gridironnow.com.
A freshman from Davidson, North Carolina, Grier has thrown for 10 touchdowns, three interceptions and 1,204 yards for the eighth-ranked Gators.
Florida (6-0, 4-0) will travel to Death Valley to face No. 6 LSU (5-0, 3-0) in an SEC showdown on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Grier had been a breath of fresh air for the Gators at quarterback. He became the first Florida quarterback since Tim Tebow in 2009 to pass for more than 200 yards in three consecutive games. Grier's completion percentage, passing yards per game and TD-to-interception ratio is also the best by a Gator since 2009. His completion percentage (65.8) and scramble yards (154) rank first in the SEC.
With Grier out, sophomore Treon Harris will likely start for coach Jim McElwain's team. Harris started the season opener before giving way to Grier, but he was also suspended earlier this season for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Grier has a higher completion percentage (65.8) and lower percentage of passes off-target (10.2) than Harris (53.6 and 22.8), according to ESPN Stats & Information. However, Harris averages 1.8 more yards per attempt. Harris has appeared in two games this season and thrown for 269 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions.
The Wynn race and sportsbook moved LSU from a 6.5 to 7.5-point favorite over Florida after the news. Wynn executive director John Avello initially opened LSU -5 on Sunday night, but took two $2,000 limit bets on the Tigers to move the number to -6.5. He then bumped it up another point after news broke that Grier would be suspended.
Avello said he was not adjusting the Gators' odds to win the national championship at this time. Florida is 35-1 at the Wynn.
Information from ESPN.com's David Purdum.
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