Florida head coach Jim McElwain confirmed that Treon Harris, who has had a rocky two seasons at quarterback, will move to wide receiver for the 2016 season.
For the third straight season, the Florida Gators will be starting a new quarterback in their first game when the Orange and Blue host UMass to start things off September 3rd. This time, however, the man who was under center last year will still be on the field – just in a new spot.
Florida head coach Jim McElwain, during an interview with one ESPN college football insider (via SEC Country), confirmed that Treon Harris, after a rocky two seasons in Gainesville, will more to wide receiver for the 2016 campaign:
"“You’ve got to look at the fit,” McElwain said. “Nothing he did. Guys around him didn’t play great either. So I’ll never put that on a player.”“Everybody has freedom, he doesn’t have to stay there,” McElwain said when asked how Harris handled switching positions. “But at the end of the day, look, we’re in this not here to hurt anybody’s feelings. But at the same time, it is what it is and we’ve got four guys who I’m really proud of. The room is really good and I’m excited about it.”"
The position switch was talked about all the way back in February, but was put on hold when Harris was suspended for spring practice for unspecified reasons that McElwain still won’t talk about.
One of the top recruited players out of Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School, Treon Harris took over the starting spot in 2014, which led to the transfer of former starter Jeff Driskel. In 2015, Harris started the opener but would lose the job to Will Grier before gaining it back following Grier’s PED suspension.
Harris combined for 1,912 yards and nine touchdowns both passing and rushing (and six interceptions along with being sacked 31 times) in 2015, highlights by seven games under 165 yards passing this past season.
In all likelihood, the starting spot in 2016 will go to transfer quarterback Luke Del Rio, the son of NFL head coach Jack Del Rio.
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