Florida Names Treon Harris Starting QB, but Battle with Will Grier Will Continue

As we get closer to game time around the SEC, more quarterback decisions are being made and more clarity on previously out-of-focus battles is gained.

Next up on the schedule: Florida.

First-year head coach Jim McElwain announced Wednesday night that sophomore dual-threat Treon Harris will start the season opener versus New Mexico State on Saturday, according to Chris Harry of GatorZone.com:

Harris beat out redshirt freshman pro-style quarterback Will Grier for the role, but Grier will likely play as well, according to Nick de la Torre of GatorCountry.com:

So, to put it simply, it's a "soft win" for Harris in what is a mild upset, considering Grier's pro-style attributes are a better fit for what McElwain and new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier typically run.

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How long will Harris be the starter?

It's much more likely, at this point, that Florida plays a game of musical quarterbacks all year than it is that either of the contenders cements himself as the unquestioned No. 1.

Co-starters is much more likely and probably the best path at this point for the 2015 Gators.

Grier had the lead coming into fall camp and is the more natural fit for the staff but either got beaten by a more dynamic player or flat-out lost the job.

That's fine.

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However the job was won or lost, McElwain's decision to name Harris the starter and send a moderate shock through the college football world allows the head coach much more wiggle room to mix and match quarterbacks based on the hot hand, matchups and team need than it would had he named Grier the starter. 

Instead of giving off the appearance that he's ripping off the Band-Aid of the old system under former coordinator Kurt Roper, he's slowly pulling it off, hedging his bets and going with experience for now. As Zach Abolverdi of the Gainesville Sun notes, McElwain is already going with the hot hand:

This isn't over. In fact, it's a long way from over.

The job will be likely be Grier's at some point, but with Florida's offensive line issues, having a mobile quarterback like Harris as a major part of the game plan might be a smart option if and when the protection does break down. 

The good news for either quarterback is that there should be more playmakers in the receiving corps to choose from this year to help fuel the offense.

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson reintroduced himself to the world last year when he caught 53 passes for 810 yards and seven touchdowns for a painfully one-dimensional offense. Brandon Powell's move from running back to slot receiver will provide McElwain with a home run hitter who can be used in a variety of ways. Ahmad Fulwood is also a solid option outside who should benefit from McElwain's presence.

No matter who the quarterback is, the offense should be more effective than it has been in years past.

Harris will still be looking over his shoulder at Grier early in the season and probably for the entire regular season. If it's a mid-4.4 40-yard dash while running free down the sideline for the end zone, though, it doesn't matter what kind of quarterback is a more natural fit.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Statistics are courtesy of cfbstats.com.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.