HERO Sports is counting down the days until the kickoff of the 2018 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, by featuring the best player in the FBS at each jersey number, from 99-1. Each day, from May 18 through Aug. 24, we'll publish one article showcasing the best player whose jersey number matches the number of days remaining.
No. 7 Will Grier
West Virginia – QB
In writing, "I have decided to return to WVU for my senior season," last December, Will Grier's NFL decision prompted a collective sigh from Big 12 country. For another year, their secondaries would be assaulted with one of the best vertical passing games in conference history.
Grier, in his first season as West Virginia starter after transferring from Florida and sitting out the 2016 season, had the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade on deep passes among Power Five quarterbacks. Two of the three quarterbacks ahead of him — Baker Mayfield and Mason Rudolph — are gone, making him the preeminent vertical passer in the Big 12, something head coach Dana Holgorsen credits to a great relationship between Grier and offensive coordinator Jake Spatival.
"I think just watching the practices and how Jake and Will interact . . . they got as good of a relationship that exists from a play caller and a quarterback that I've ever seen," Holgorsen said. "I'm comfortable with where they're at and year two is always going to become more efficient."
Also returning for the Mountaineers are two of the best receivers in the country in Gary Jennings Jr. and David Sills (above), who combined for 157 receptions for 1,976 yards last year and give Grier the weapons to make a serious run at West Virginia's first-ever Big 12 Championship and Heisman Trophy.
Will Grier is a Heisman favorite, All-America candidate and the best No. 7 in college football.
