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At this point, it’s obvious Treon Harris will take every snap he is physically capable of taking in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game.
But Alabama’s defense doesn’t play two-hand touch, and Harris, just 5-11, 195 pounds, isn’t built like Dak Prescott.
Does Florida have an emergency backup plan?
Well, it has a backup package.
“Gator Tail,” they call it and the guy who runs it is senior Josh Grady, a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt.
Grady played receiver at Vanderbilt and has more receptions (8) than completions (4) in his college career. “Gator Tail” is a run-oriented package built to take advantage of his skills.
Grady, a former 3-star recruit with more Big Ten scholarship offers than SEC interest, opened the season third on the depth chart but moved into the backup role following Will Grier’s suspension.
Grady has appeared in just four games with the Gators, despite wishes from some fans who have seen enough of Harris.
He caught a 25-yard pass, from Harris, in the opener against New Mexico State and started the fourth quarter against Florida Atlantic after the Owls briefly knocked Harris out of the game.
Josh Grady, a former Vandy wide receiver, coming in to play QB for the start of the fourth quarter.
— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) November 21, 2015
His first play? A 7-yard handoff to Kelvin Taylor.
Harris replaced him — and threw an interception two plays later.
Harris’ ineffectiveness has been an issue since he replaced Grier, and Gator fans are growing more restless with his repeated check downs and overthrows.
Florida has to seriously look at Josh Grady at QB, right? Yes that OL has been bad but Treon Harris has just missed open guys all day
— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) November 21, 2015
Harris’ performance against Florida State on Saturday had some questioning whether it was time to coach Jim McElwain pull him for good.
So Josh Grady has to start warming up, right? #FSUvsUF
— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) November 29, 2015
I don't care what they say Josh Grady cannot be worse than This
— Hacker (@RyanGreen1010XL) November 29, 2015
If he's gone with Harris this long, Josh Grady must be very very far behind. https://t.co/ojbdXh9UFy
— Morgan Moriarty (@Morgan_Moriarty) November 29, 2015
Don’t you think if Jacob Guy or Josh Grady had a skill set the #Gators could use, they would be used by now?
— Dan Thompson (@DKThompson) November 29, 2015
Clearly, that’s the case. As long as Harris is healthy, he’ll play.
But just in case, the Gators do have a backup plan. Or package, anyway.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
