Crawford: Grier can get the ball anywhere he wants
Will Grier has already generated a lot of excitement without ever taking a snap in an actual game for West Virginia. But perhaps nobody is as eager for his debut than his running back Justin Crawford.
But why would a player whose position is defined by having the football handed to him, be giddy over the addition pocket-passing quarterback? The answer isn’t really all that difficult to figure out.
“Teams won’t be able to stack the box on me anymore,” Crawford said. “They’ll have to play the pass.”
That’s good news for the Big 12 Conference’s leading returning rusher, who finished his inaugural campaign in Morgantown with 1,177 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 7.3 yards per tote. His efforts earned him Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors.
Now it’s the projected newcomer of the year in Grier, that is receiving plenty of pre-season buzz.
With Grier taking over the starting quarterback role, teams won’t have the luxury of stacking seven or eight in the box to help stymie the Mountaineers run game.
Count Crawford in along with many others in the program that are bullish on what Grier can do after transferring from Florida. With the Gators, Grier led the program to a 6-0 start while tossing ten touchdowns prior to receiving a year-long suspension for taking a banned substance.
Crawford recalls watching film of Grier when he was with the Gators and knew that he was special. However, that was truly reinforced in his mind with what he did during his year away from the game when he worked with the Mountaineers offensive scout team.
“He was just shredding the defense apart,” Crawford said.
From a leadership perspective, Grier has been a model citizen not only setting an example for his teammates but following it. The year away from the game made him even more hungry to get back on the field and his teammates have noticed him showing up first for summer workouts.
“He goes the extra mile,” Crawford said.
After being formally cleared by the NCAA to open the season, little stands between Grier and the starting quarterback role when the Mountaineers open against Virginia Tech. In fact, it’s become a mere formality that he is going to be tabbed as the starter and it came at a critical time.
West Virginia is looking to replace Skyler Howard, who started for two plus seasons in Morgantown and specifically targeted Grier to fill that role. After securing him as a transfer, the signal caller impressed early on into his career without ever taking a snap in an actual football game.
“It didn’t take long for us to figure out he’s a really good player,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said.
The son of a head coach, Grier will bring a different dynamic to the Mountaineers offense as Howard was used much more in the run game. It’s through the air where Grier will get his work done.
And his teammates have taken notice.
“His release is so quick. He can get the ball anywhere he wants at any moment,” Crawford said.