Eric Gray (American football) facts for kids
Gray in 2023
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| No. 20 – New York Giants | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back / Kickoff returner | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | November 4, 1999 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 211 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Lausanne Collegiate School (Memphis) | ||||||||||
| College: | Tennessee (2019–2020) Oklahoma (2021–2022) |
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| NFL Draft: | 2023 / Round: 5 / Pick: 172 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Meet Eric DeWayne Gray, a talented American football player! He was born on November 4, 1999. Eric plays as a running back and kickoff returner for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for both the Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners.
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Early Life and High School Success
Eric Gray grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He went to Lausanne Collegiate School. He was an amazing high school football player!
Becoming a High School Star
In his sophomore year, Eric ran for over 2,200 yards. He also scored 38 touchdowns. This amazing performance earned him the "Tennessee Mr. Football" award.
As a junior, he was even better! He rushed for over 3,100 yards and scored 45 touchdowns. He was named the Tennessee Gatorade Football Player of the Year. He also won the "Tennessee Mr. Football" award again. During these two years, he helped his team win the Tennessee High School Championship.
College Choices
Eric was considered a top player, known as a "four-star recruit." He first decided to play college football at Michigan. But later, he changed his mind. He then chose to play for the Tennessee Volunteers. He won the Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Football awards for a third time in his senior year.
College Football Journey
Eric Gray played college football for two different teams. He started with the Tennessee Volunteers. Then, he transferred to the Oklahoma Sooners.
Playing for Tennessee
As a freshman at Tennessee, Eric showed his skills. 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 rushed for 246 yards. This was a new record for a freshman at the school! He was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week.
In his second year at Tennessee, Eric led the team in rushing. He gained 772 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. In January 2021, Eric decided to transfer to another college.
Playing for Oklahoma
Eric chose to transfer to the University of Oklahoma. In the 2021 season, he ran for 412 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 229 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
The 2022 season was a huge year for Eric at Oklahoma. He became the main running back for the Sooners. In one game against West Virginia, he rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns. By the end of the 2022 season, Eric had rushed for an impressive 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 229 yards. He had eight games where he rushed for over 100 yards!
Professional Football Career
Eric Gray entered the National Football League (NFL) draft after his college career.
Joining the New York Giants
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 9+1⁄2 in (1.77 m) |
207 lb (94 kg) |
29+5⁄8 in (0.75 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.62 s | 1.55 s | 2.64 s | 4.10 s | 7.17 s | 37.5 in (0.95 m) |
9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) |
12 reps | |
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The New York Giants picked Eric Gray in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He was the 172nd player chosen overall.
Rookie Season and Beyond
During his rookie season in 2023, Eric played in 13 games. He had a small role in the offense. He also helped the team by returning kickoffs and punts sometimes. He was placed on injured reserve for a short time in October 2023. He was back playing by November 25, 2023.
