MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia quarterback Will Grier will not participate in the 2018 Camping World Bowl and will focus on his preparation for the 2019 NFL Draft.
 
Grier, one of the top players in the nation over the past two seasons, will go down as one of the best quarterbacks to ever wear the Gold and Blue. He not only led the Mountaineers on the field but was a leader off it. It didn't take the Charlotte native long to make West Virginia his home.
 
In his own words, Grier wanted to share his thoughts with Mountaineer Nation –
 
Dear Mountaineer Family:
 
"Since arriving in Morgantown, Jeanne and I have been welcomed into the Mountaineer Family and we, along with Eloise, have been so blessed by the support and love of so many. I hope that, in return, you know that I have given my all and worked hard each and every day to help our football program and University. 
 
"While we did not win every time we took the field, and I shoulder that responsibility, I can assure you that we tried. After discussions with Jeanne and my family, and after receiving professional input, I have decided not to participate in our upcoming bowl game and focus on preparing myself and my family for what I hope is the next step in our journey. I want to thank Coach Holgorsen, Coach Spavital and all of our coaches for believing in me and, most importantly, to my teammates, who are now lifelong friends who taught me the true meaning of TEAM. 
 
"It has been an honor to wear the WVU uniform, and I sincerely thank all of Mountaineer Nation for allowing my family and I to be a part of something so special. Country roads, take me home…"
 
Will Grier
 
In 2018, Grier earned a season-long spot as a Heisman Trophy contender and finished as a finalist for the Maxwell Award, the Manning Award, Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Senior CLASS Award.
 
"Will and I spoke at length about the bowl game, and I am fully supportive of his decision to begin preparing for the NFL Draft," WVU coach Dana Holgorsen said. "While we will miss him in Orlando, Will's commitment and service to WVU Football over the last three years will be talked about for many years to come.  He led us with class, hard work and a willingness to learn, and set a high standard for his teammates. He will always be part of our family, and we wish him, Jeanne and Eloise all the best in pursuit of their dreams."
 
As a senior, Grier led the Mountaineers to an 8-3 (6-3 Big 12) record and a national top-15 ranking in both polls for the entire season, including four weeks in the top 10. As a junior, he led the Mountaineers to seven wins and a spot in the national rankings.
 
He passed for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns and also had three scores on the ground in 2018. He had a career night against CFP semifinalist Oklahoma with 32 completions for a career-high 539 yards and accounted for five scores. His defining moment came in a 42-41 win at No. 15 Texas. He orchestrated a game-winning, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left before running in the two-point conversion.
 
He ranks in the top 10 nationally in 11 statistical categories, including eight in the top five: No. 2 nationally in touchdowns passes per game (3.4), No. 3 in passing touchdowns (37) and passing yards per game (351.3), No. 4 in yards per pass attempt and points responsible for per game (22.0), No. 5 in pass efficiency (175.5), points responsible for (242) and total passing yards (3,864), No. 6 in total offense (343.1), No. 7 in completions per game (24.2), No. 9 in passing yards per completion (14.5) and No. 15 in completion percentage (.670).
 
He connected with David Sills V for 33 touchdowns over the past two years, most in FBS. His 37 touchdown passes rank No. 2 on WVU's single-season list, his 3,864 yards ranks No. 3 on the single-season passing yards list and his 266 completions rank No. 4 on the single-season completion list. He also finished No. 2 on the senior passing yards and total offense chart.
 
Grier finished his WVU career completing 516-of-785 passes for 7,354 yards and 71 touchdowns through the air and accounted for 76 total touchdowns. He threw for 300 or more yards in a school-record 19 games at WVU and had multiple touchdown games 20 times. He also has thrown a career-best five touchdowns five times.
 
Grier is the career NCAA active leader in passing yards per game (305.6). He ranks No. 3 in NCAA active career total offense per game (310.9) and No. 5 in NCAA active career pass efficiency (165.1).
 
In the WVU career charts, he is No. 1 in pass efficiency (169.19), No. 2 in touchdown passes (71) and completion percentage (.657), No. 3 in passing yards (7,354), tied for No. in touchdowns responsible for (76), No. 4 for pass completions (516) and No. 6 in total offense (7,386).
 
Grier graduated from WVU in Dec. 2017, with a bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies.