QB Will Grier to be eligible for West Virginia’s opener against Virginia Tech

Former Davidson Day quarterback Will Grier is eligible to start the season at West Virginia.

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen announced Tuesday that Grier has been cleared by the NCAA to begin playing at the start of the 2017 season.

Grier, a former national player of the year in high school, played in six games and started five for Florida in 2015 before starting a one-year suspension for a positive PED (performance-enhancing drug) test midway through his freshman season.

Grier subsequently transferred to West Virginia and sat out the 2016 season because of NCAA transfer rules. The school sought a waiver with the NCAA to allow Grier to play in Game 1 -- a nationally televised game against Virginia Tech Sept. 3 -- instead of waiting until Game 7 on Oct. 21 at Baylor.

“We are pleased that Will has been cleared to play in our season opener by the NCAA,” Holgorsen said. “Since he enrolled here last year, he’s done everything he is supposed to do. He has been an outstanding teammate and leader on and off the field. Now that this decision is behind him, Will can turn his attention and preparation for the upcoming season.”

At Florida, Grier completed 106-of-151 passes for 1,204 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had a season-high 283 yards against Tennessee and threw for 200 or more yards in three games, 250 or more in two games and completed multiple touchdowns in four games.

In high school, Grier threw for 14,565 yards and 195 touchdowns. He won multiple national player of the year awards and once threw for more than 800 yards and 10 touchdowns in a game.

In West Virginia’s spring game, Grier completed 12-of-18 pass for 202 yards.

This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 12:38 PM with the headline "QB Will Grier to be eligible for West Virginia’s opener against Virginia Tech."