Quarterback to Back: Will Grier Offers a Big Challenge for OSU’s Young Secondary

Oklahoma State is in the midst of a murderer’s row as far as the Big 12 goes and its schedule goes. It survived an ugly one in Austin and now heads to Morgantown to see what this team is really made of.

The biggest cause for concern if you’re OSU is 6 foot 2 and looks like someone dressed up as a college quarterback for Halloween. WIll Grier make look like one of the Doobie Brothers, but he’s a prime candidate to be the best quarterback in the Big 12 next season.

Let’s take a look at how the two QBs stack up.

Mike Gundy was brief when discussing the junior Mountaineer QB but ackrut. “I think this guy throws it better than anybody we’ve played up to this point. ”

Glenn Spencer, the man losing the most sleep over Grier this week followed up his boss’ statement.

“I think I heard Coach Gundy say that Will Grier is the best quarterback we’ve faced all year, and he is,” said Spencer.

“He’s got touch, he sees the field well and you’ve seen him improve from the first game until now. He doesn’t get flustered and throws a catchable ball, so I think they were fortunate to get him in there.”

How they got him there was by way of transfer after Grier lost his spot at Florida following a year-long PED suspension. But before that benching by the NCAA, the true freshman was 6-0 as a starter, completing 66 percent of his throws with 10 TDs and three interceptions. He had offers to play at several schools including Ohio State but he chose playing in Milan Puskar over The Shoe.

West Virginia’s offense is based on quick, short throws mainly to one of three receivers: Gary Jennings, David Sills V and Ka’Raun White. And it’s facilitated by Grier’s ability to operate and execute quickly.

More than 65 percent of that production has come on passes thrown within 2.6 seconds after the snap. He is 134-of-166 (80.7 percent) for 1,891 yards, 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions on such passes for an FBS​-leading passer rating of 284.3, according to Pro Football Focus. Hero Sports

This will definitely be the first peer Mason Rudolph has faced across the sideline. My apologies to Kenny Hill. Grier has led the team to a 5-2 record including a season opener he had a chance to win on the last drive against No. 13 Virginia Tech. His only other loss was on the road to TCU. Okay, Kenny Hill bested both of them.

Like Rudolph, Grier has had offensive line issues. While OSU has suffered an unusual stretch of injuries up front, West Virginia had to replace most of their veteran group from 2016. Grier has been sacked 11 times, so it pays for him to be quick on his throws.

While his defense has been rebuilding, Grier and Co. have had little trouble putting up points. The QB with the most TD throws in the nation (26) will face a young secondary that has given up only four through seven games. Something’s got to give, and I have a feeling it may be on the defensive side. Whatever the weather conditions tomorrow morning in Morgantown, it’s a pretty safe bet that whichever team wins the QB matchup gets the victory.