Florida's Jim McElwain confirms Treon Harris has moved to WR
After months of speculation, we now know what position Treon Harris will play when Florida begins preseason camp in a few weeks.
Months after it was first reported, Gators head coach Jim McElwain confirmed on ESPN writer Ivan Maisel’s podcast that Harris has made the move from quarterback to wide receiver. Harris has seen significant action at quarterback for the Gators over the last two seasons, but McElwain said Harris’ skills will be utilized better at wideout.
“You’ve got to look at the fit,” McElwain said per SECCountry.com. “Nothing he did. Guys around him didn’t play great either. So I’ll never put that on a player.”
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Harris battled to start at QB entering the 2015 season, but after a few games of splitting time, that role was given to Will Grier. UF started 6-0 with Grier running the offense, but Harris was thrust back to the top of the depth chart after Grier was suspended by the NCAA in October for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Florida struggled with Harris and went 4-4 down the stretch to finish 10-4. Harris threw for more 200 yards only three times and finished the year with 1,676 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions while completing just 50.6 percent of his passes. He also added 238 rushing yards.
Along with wide receiver Antonio Callaway, Harris missed spring practice due to a suspension for violating the school’s student code of conduct. McElwain confirmed last week that both players are back on campus but said there was no timetable for their return to the team.
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With Harris at wide receiver and Grier out of the picture (he transferred to West Virginia), Florida will turn to a new quarterback in 2016. Luke Del Rio, an Oregon State transfer who began his career at Alabama, is considered the favorite. He ran UF’s scout team offense last season after transferring and was recently put on scholarship. Purdue transfer Austin Appleby is considered Del Rio’s main competition for the starting role. Freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask are also in the mix.
“We’ve got four guys who I’m really proud of,” McElwain said of the quarterbacks. “The room is really good and I’m excited about it.”
Florida is scheduled to open up preseason camp on Aug. 4 before its Sept. 3 season-opener at home against UMass.
For more Florida news, visit InsideTheGators.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
