After watching Will Grier and Treon Harris battle it out for the starting quarterback job for two weeks, coach Jim McElwain still isn’t ready to make his decision.
McElwain said neither quarterback showed enough in UF’s 31-24 win against East Carolina on Saturday for him to be comfortable picking one over the other.
"Both had good things, both had things we need to work on," McElwain said. "But then again, I look at it as they weren’t fatal flaws. They weren’t just some of those real scratch-your-head deals as much."
Grier finished with 151 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 10-of-17 passing, including a pair of well-timed passes to Brandon Powell and DeAndre Goolsby in the first quarter.
However, Grier also had an interception and a couple risky pass attempts.
Harris played in the second and fourth quarters, completing five of eight passes for 54 yards. While Harris’ play was average, he led the Gators on a crucial 11-play, 75-yard drive in the fourth quarter, capped by a 7-yard Kelvin Taylor touchdown run.
McElwain said he is not afraid to continue to play the hot hand until he feels confident naming a starter.
"I’m more concerned that we’ve got to continue to get better at the other positions as well to develop some consistency," McElwain said.
Injury update: Florida’s secondary is finally rounding back into form.
Safety Keanu Neal, who has not practiced since Aug. 21 due to a leg injury, has been cleared to return to the field, McElwain said.
Neal played in 10 games last season, starting eight. He finished the season with 45 tackles, four pass breakups, three interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
"That will be a big plus, having him back there it’s just another playmaker out there on the field with our defense," defensive back Marcus Maye said. "A guy with experience [who can] make plays all over the field."
While Neal is returning, the Gators are still playing a wait-and-see approach with a few of its players.
Junior linebacker Alex Anzalone (shoulder) is still being evaluated after being taken out in the first-half of Saturday’s game against ECU.
McElwain also said cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is still questionable. Hargreaves was scratched from Saturday’s game after injuring his leg in practice on Thursday.
Freshman offensive line Martez Ivey (knee) is also questionable and running back Case Harrison (thumb) is day-to-day.
Other tight ends limiting McGee’s impact: While Florida’s tight ends have thrived early under McElwain, the team’s most-experienced tight end has been virtually non-existent.
Sixth-year tight end Jake McGee has just two catches for 18 yards early in the season, both of which came in the opener.
Despite McGee’s early slump, McElwain is still impressed with how the tight end position as a whole has produced.
In UF’s wins against New Mexico State and East Carolina, the position group has 11 catches, 200 yards and three touchdowns, with sophomore DeAndre Goolsby leading the Gators with 132 receiving yards.
In the last two seasons overall, Florida tight ends recorded 30 catches, 279 yards and three touchdowns.
"We’ve used that position group to make some plays," McElwain said. "For whatever it is, their number was called and it came up in the progression. I don’t look at it as maybe something Jake is or isn’t doing."
UF-Tennessee time set: Florida’s home game against Tennessee on Sept. 26 is set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and will be televised by CBS. Eight of the last 10 matchups between the Gators and Volunteers have started at 3:30 p.m.
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
UF tight end Jake McGee runs a route during Florida's 31-24 win against East Carolina on Sept. 12, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
