Eric Gray (American football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eric Gray

Gray in 2023
No. 20 – New York Giants
Position:	Running back / Kickoff returner
Personal information
Born:	(1999-11-04) November 4, 1999 (age 25) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:	Lausanne Collegiate School (Memphis, Tennessee)
College:	Tennessee (2019–2020) Oklahoma (2021–2022)
NFL Draft:	2023 / Round: 5 / Pick: 172
Career history
New York Giants (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big 12 (2022)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Rushing attempts: 31 Rushing yards: 79 Receptions: 16 Receiving yards: 104 Return yards: 640
Player stats at PFR

Eric DeWayne Gray (born November 4, 1999) is an American professional football player. He plays as a running back and kickoff returner for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, Eric played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Early life and High School Success

Eric Gray grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He went to Lausanne Collegiate School. He was a fantastic football player in high school.

Becoming "Mr. Football"

In his second year (sophomore season), Eric ran for 2,251 yards. He also scored 38 touchdowns. This amazing performance earned him the title of Tennessee Mr. Football. He won this award again in his junior year.

Winning Championships

As a junior, Eric ran for even more yards, reaching 3,151. He scored 45 touchdowns that year. He was named the Tennessee Gatorade Football Player of the Year. He also won the Tennessee High School Championship twice. These wins happened during his sophomore and junior years.

College Choices

Eric was a highly-rated player, called a "four-star recruit." This means many colleges wanted him to play for them. He first decided to play for Michigan. But later, he changed his mind. He then chose to play for the University of Tennessee. He won Mr. Football for a third time in his senior year.

College Football Career

Eric Gray played college football for two different teams. He started at the University of Tennessee. Later, he transferred to the University of Oklahoma.

Playing for Tennessee

As a freshman at Tennessee, Eric played very well. He ran for 539 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. In a game against Vanderbilt, he set a school record for freshmen. He ran for 246 yards and scored three touchdowns. He was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week. In his second year, Eric led Tennessee with 772 rushing yards. He also had 254 receiving yards. In January 2021, he decided to transfer to another school.

Playing for Oklahoma

Eric chose to transfer to the University of Oklahoma. In 2021, he ran for 412 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. In the 2022 season, Eric became the main running back for the Sooners. He had a huge game against West Virginia. He ran for 211 yards and scored two touchdowns. For the whole 2022 season, Eric ran for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 229 yards. He had eight games where he ran for over 100 yards.

Professional Football Career

Eric Gray was chosen by the New York Giants in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was the 172nd player picked overall. This happened in the fifth round of the draft.

Rookie Season Challenges

During his first year (rookie season) in 2023, Eric faced some challenges. He was placed on "injured reserve" on October 25, 2023. This means he couldn't play because of an injury. He was able to return to play on November 25.

Role with the Giants

As a rookie, Eric played in 13 games. He had a smaller role in the team's offense. He also helped the team by returning kickoffs and punts.