The Odd Tale of Florida QB Will Grier's Suspension

The Florida Gators turnaround from last year's mediocrity to this year's unbeaten streak of six games seemed almost too good to be true — and it might actually have been. Yesterday the school announced that its star freshman quarterback, Will Grier, had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and could face suspension for a full year. 

Details are still being sketched out, but the story is already pretty bizarre. Grier reportedly gained 43 pounds in a single year and is part of a family who is shaping up to be something of the male-version of the Kardashians. Oh, also, Jose Conseco has somehow inserted himself in the story. 

1. No one knows exactly what PED Grier took. 
The Orlando Sentinel, citing anonymous sources, originally reported that Grier took a supplement called Ligandrol. The drug is available over the counter but is considered a banned performance-enhancing drug despite being quite popular in the body-building community. 

So....Ligandrol. There you go. #Gators pic.twitter.com/ZiTXmr679P

— Mackenzie Thirkill (@KenzieThirkill) October 12, 2015

However, the University of Florida has refuted that the drug in question was actually Ligandrol and, citing student privacy laws, refuses to release what the drug actually was. 

Grier might not even be sure what he took. He claims he took an OTC supplement he didn't know contained a banned substance but didn't run the contents of the supplement by the Gators' medical staff. 

2. Whatever it was, it certainly seemed to work.
Grier arrived on campus as a 172-pound freshman. That's quite skinny for a 6'2" frame. Within a year, he had bulked up to 215 pounds and was named starting QB. Grier credited the weight gain to a body builder-like diet and lifting, but clearly there might have been more going into his body than just food. 

Love having the boy @willgrier_ home! Swamp Life has been good to him - weighed 215 today after workout! #ProudDad pic.twitter.com/Kf6MYDkXNj

— Chad Grier (@ChadGrier_) July 30, 2015

Grier's new frame certainly helped the Gators on the field, too. ABC News broke down the stats to show how important Grier has been to the Gators' turnaround: 

Of the 17 SEC quarterbacks who had at least 150 action plays last season, the Gators' tandem of Jeff Driskel and Treon Harris ranked 17th and 15th, respectively, in Total QBR. And even though Grier's current QBR ranking of eighth in the conference isn't outstanding, he was enough of an upgrade that the quarterback position was no longer a liability for Florida. That's a big deal when combined with a top-level defense

He's basically regarded as perhaps Florida's best QB since Tim Tebow. 

3. Grier gave a tearful apology but plans to appeal the suspension.
 
Grier's admittance to taking the supplement means that the Gators won't be able to appeal the suspension totally, but the team is widely expected to appeal the length of the suspension. They'll likely argue that Grier made a dumb mistake and wasn't actively trying to subvert NCAA rules. The best-case scenario is that perhaps Grier could return before the 2016 season. 

As it stands now, Grier would be suspended for an entire calendar year, meaning that he'd sit out the first six games of next season as well. 

4. Grier's brothers are the most famous teens you've never heard of.
Being the QB who returns the Florida Gators to glory can certainly net you a lot of fame — just ask Tim Tebow. However, Will Grier's star power is actually overshadowed by his two younger brothers. You just might not know that if you're, say, over the age of 28 and don't have apps like Vine and Snapchat downloaded on your phone.

Grier's 17-year-old brother Nash is the most followed person on Twitter's video app Vine. He posts "comedy" videos, but his rabid following has more to do with teenage girl's fantasies than his comedy chops. He's also since amassed millions of followers across other social media platforms as well. Nash is also moving into acting and his first starring role in a film called The Outfield is coming out this month. 

However, Nash also had his own share of controversy. An old, since-deleted Vine in which the teen jokes that HIV/AIDS is a "fag" disease still continues to haunt him, and a video in which he and other Vine stars critique girls' bodies on which characteristics they find most appealing also caused backlash. 

When you match your floor it's a good day

A photo posted by @nashgrier on Jul 21, 2015 at 1:53pm PDT

Props to Will for manning up to his mistakes, learn from it & come back stronger. Everyone can't wait to see you on the field again brother

— Nash Grier (@Nashgrier) October 12, 2015

But Nash isn't the only teen heartthrob in the family. The youngest brother, Hayes, has also found fame online, and, without the controversy that surrounds his brother, has had an easier time getting mainstream gigs. He's actually competing this season on Dancing With The Stars alongside Chaka Khan and Paula Deen. 

the man @andygrammer be sure to vote for us!!! Link in bio (:

A photo posted by Hayes Grier (@hayesgrier) on Oct 12, 2015 at 7:05pm PDT

5. Naturally, teen girls keep tweeting their support for Will.
This might be one of the few things that a boy-obsessed teenage girl and her college-football-loving dad might actually be able to discuss. 

@willgrier_ love you you have all of @Nashgrier fans support forever and always pic.twitter.com/JGG0P20QUy

— CAMERON (@Nicolet_56) October 12, 2015

Nash, Will and Hayes are so cute. You make me smile @Nashgrier @HayesGrier @willgrier_ pic.twitter.com/mn3yKaA6TD

— THANK YOU NASH (@alyssaperlino) October 12, 2015

love how you guys stand up and support each other with anything. @willgrier_ @HayesGrier @Nashgrier

— kayla loves hayes (@teenvougegrier) October 12, 2015

6. Sports bros, however, are really pissed and wondering how Grier could be so stupid. 

IS Gators QB Will Grier that naive to make PED's mistake or was it needed to compete? https://t.co/0bj0o8za6I via @abcactionnews

— Tom Korun (@tkorun2012) October 13, 2015

Will Grier's an idiot. It's sad what happened to him, but he's an idiot. Could cost the Gators a play-off place.

— Alex Haddon (@SECblog) October 12, 2015

Will Grier is a idiot, he had the whole fan base supporting him now we are turning on him

— connor thompson (@Ctrainthompson) October 12, 2015

7. Jose Canseco has no part in this. 

No I have never EVEN been to gainesville hug for u Will GRier

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) October 13, 2015