2018 NFL Draft: Will Grier expected to return to West Virginia

Another quarterback prospect will reportedly forgo the 2018 NFL Draft

Former Florida and current West Virginia quarterback Will Grier is expected to return to the Mountaineers for his senior season next year.

First reports of Grier returning to West Virginia came Saturday night from Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting and Sporting News. The Mountaineers improved to 7-3 Saturday with a 28-23 win over Kansas State on the road behind four passing touchdowns from Grier.

USC quarterback Sam Darnold is also considering not leaving for the 2018 NFL Draft after what’s been a disappointing season coming off a Rose Bowl victory.

Should Darnold and Grier not declare this offseason the top quarterback prospects project to be UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, and Wyoming’s Josh Allen.

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Washington’s Jake Browning, Washington State’s Luke Falk, and N.C. State’s Ryan Finley will also garner early draft pick consideration.

Grier is playing in just his second collegiate season, and his first since starting for Florida in 2015. A suspension handed down during his freshman season for a performance-enhancing drug and the NCAA’s transfer rule kept him out all of 2016 before starting for West Virginia.

He’s surpassed 30 passing touchdowns and 3,000 passing yards for the Mountaineers and is set to take them to a meaningful bowl game after losing in the Russell Athletic Bowl to Miami 31-14 last season.

Next: 2018 Mock Draft: Saquon Barkley soars to the top

West Virginia, who is likely to be ranked in the college football playoff poll after winning their seventh game, will play Texas next weekend before finishing their regular season against Oklahoma.