The 2019 season of West Virginia football still has more to offer.
Former Mountaineers quarterback Will Grier will be making his NFL debut this week for the Carolina Panthers, even though the team won’t be playing anymore this year.
After transferring from Florida in 2015, Grier joined WVU and played for two seasons. During his time with the team, he led them to a total of 15 victories. Grier was the starting quarterback in most of the games, except for a brief period in 2017 when he suffered a finger injury during a match against Texas.
The quarterback’s response was commendable as he performed admirably, earning a fourth-place position in the Heisman voting during the following season. Grier showcased his skills by passing for nearly 3,900 yards, along with an impressive 40 total touchdowns, while limiting his interceptions to just eight.
After starting the season strong with eight wins out of their first nine games, WVU’s momentum took a hit in 2018 as they finished with an 8-4 record. Disappointingly, the Mountaineers suffered defeats against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Syracuse in their bowl game, concluding the year on a sour note.
Although Grier didn’t rank highly among the quarterback class in the NFL draft, it was almost certain that he would be chosen at some stage.
In the third round of the NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected a quarterback who stands at 6’1″ with the 100th overall pick. Despite there being only 32 teams in the NFL, there were seven compensatory selections at the end of the round, which included picks 96-102, thus making them part of round three.
Carolina initially intended to keep its rookie quarterback on the bench for the entire first season, with the aspiration of grooming Grier to become the future starter. However, as often happens in the NFL, circumstances became uncertain for the Panthers, leading to Grier being thrust into the position of making his inaugural start.
This Sunday, Grier and his Panthers will be heading to Indianapolis to face the Colts in one of the early games. Despite the Colts going through a rough patch, the WV sportsbooks have only set Carolina as seven-point underdogs with Grier leading the team.
Panthers’ Struggles
With the leadership of experienced coach Ron Rivera and veteran quarterback Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers stepped into the 2019 season with great anticipation, appearing ready for a remarkable comeback.
The situation swiftly transformed when the team suffered two consecutive losses and its leader, Newton, got sidelined due to a foot injury. In light of this, Josh Allen, the backup quarterback, assumed the responsibility of calling plays, fully aware that Newton would be absent for at least a few games.
Allen’s incredible performance made fans quickly forget about their injured star. With four consecutive victories in his first starts, the Panthers soared to a 5-1 record after six games, all thanks to their talented new quarterback.
Carolina has experienced a downfall with six consecutive losses, indicating the urgent need for a change. With Coach Rivera already relieved of his duties, the team’s attention now shifts towards the quarterback position as the next area for improvement.
In Week 16, Will Grier makes his highly anticipated NFL debut as the starting quarterback for the Panthers against the Colts. Although the team may not have significant stakes, this marks a crucial moment for the budding young talent.
The Panthers seem uncertain about their future plans, making a strong start to his career crucial for Grier’s success. It is possible that Newton has already played his final game for Carolina, and Kyle Allen’s performance has been relatively ordinary.
Grier has the potential to become the leader in the locker room if he starts off strongly in late 2019. If the front office chooses to part ways with Newton, Grier could potentially become the leader of the team in the near future.
Grier To The Rescue
Although the Panthers have recently faced challenges, they possess an abundance of talent to support their newly acquired quarterback. Christian McCaffrey, the running back, stands out as one of the premier playmakers in the league and serves as a reliable workhorse for the Panthers.
McCaffrey has consistently ranked among the top players in total yards from scrimmage since his NFL debut in 2017. He possesses a versatile skill set, excelling in both rushing and receiving. He comfortably handles a workload of 20 carries per game while also providing a reliable option for receiving plays from the backfield.
So far this season, McCaffrey has accumulated more than 1,300 rushing yards and has made 94 receptions for an extra 800 yards. He has also successfully scored 18 touchdowns.
Regardless of the quarterback’s identity, McCaffrey remains one of the top offensive weapons in football, demanding frequent involvement. As Grier steps into his first start, it is crucial to recognize McCaffrey’s significance in the Sunday game plan.
Grier is fortunate to have additional support from the Panthers’ wide receivers, DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel, who have both demonstrated impressive performances throughout the season.
With a staggering 13.7 yards per catch, Moore dominates the team, accumulating nearly 1,200 receiving yards on 133 targets.
Although most NFL quarterbacks struggle in their initial starts, Grier is fortunate to have a favorable situation surrounding him. Should he manage to achieve some early success, his confidence will flourish and provide invaluable support throughout the game.
Despite throwing three interceptions and earning a low quarterback rating of 58.7, Allen’s performance in the Panthers’ previous game against Seattle resulted in a close loss with only a six-point difference.
Grier has proven his capability as a player; however, he must now demonstrate it at the next level. The main challenge he faces is his limited exposure to his own offensive system.
ESPN reports that Perry Fewell, the interim coach of the Panthers, has expressed his satisfaction with Grier’s performance while working with the scout team.
“He has improved significantly in terms of commanding the huddle. When observing him on the look squad, his voice inflection stands out as he successfully executes challenging counts. We have tasked him with emulating the actions of opposing quarterbacks, and he has shown great progress in his ability to scramble and make accurate throws while on the move.”
No matter what happens in the first game, this presents a fantastic opportunity for the former WVU standout, and it is just the beginning of many more to come.
WV Sportsbooks Odds
Despite the disappointment of bettors in the Mountain State due to WVU’s absence in a bowl game, they can still participate in placing bets on Will Grier’s performance this weekend. The convergence of WVU football and NFL betting is expected to create a significant amount of engagement at the sportsbooks.
According to both WV mobile sports betting apps, these are the odds for the Carolina Panthers for this Sunday as of Dec. 20.
The Carolina Panthers will be facing off against the Indianapolis Colts.
DraftKings odds:
- The line for the CAR game is 6.5 points with odds of -110, while the moneyline is +235.
- The IND point spread is -6.5 with odds of -110, while the moneyline is -278.
- Over/Under 47 (-110)
FanDuel odds:
- CAR -7 (-110) Moneyline: +235
- Indianapolis Colts are favored to win by 7 points with a moneyline of -280.
- Over/Under 46.5 (-110)
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