Here's what kind of player Oklahoma is getting in Tennessee transfer Eric Gray

After smashing records on the high school level, Gray emerged as a versatile and productive weapon for two seasons at Tennessee

John E. Hoover | Jan 29, 2021

So what exactly is Oklahoma getting in Tennessee transfer running back Eric Gray?

Put it this way: they liked Gray in Knoxville. A lot.

“Eric Gray had a chance to be among the Mount Rushmore of Tennessee running backs from a statistical standpoint,” said Matthew Ray, editor and publisher of the SI/Fan Nation network website Volunteer Nation.

Gray on Wednesday became the third former Vol — so far, anyway — to leave Rocky Top for Sooner Nation through the NCAA transfer portal. Last week, offensive tackle Wanya Morris made it official. And on Tuesday, defensive back Key Lawrence joined him.

Gray was a 4-star prospect by 247 Sports and Rivals out of Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis. He chose the Vols over Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami, Stanford, Texas A&M and others, plus had offers from Big 12 schools Baylor and West Virginia. He was previously committed to Michigan.

In his two seasons at Tennessee, Gray shared the spotlight but was always productive.

“Gray surged late in his freshman season, and he showed the capability to be an every down back,” Ray told SI Sooners. “His ability to make a cut, get north and south and always fall forward makes him a tough out for any defense he faces.

“Gray is also a reliable pass-catcher and should thrive in Lincoln Riley’s offense in all phases. He is a gadget back who can be moved into the slot, but he is durable enough to bang in between the tackles.”

As a freshman, he rushed for 539 yards and four touchdowns on 101 carries. As a sophomore, he led the Vols with 772 yards and scored four TDs on 157 carries.

His 1,727 all-purpose yards also included 43 receptions for 369 yards and three TD catches.

“Gray scored in pretty much every way imaginable at Tennessee, while serving as a special teams weapon,“ Ray said.

According to his UT bio, Gray’s father played running back at Tennessee State, and his uncle, Maurice Hall, was a running back at Ohio State from 2001-04 (and is now an actor).

One look at Gray’s high school highlights illustrate his almost preposterous productivity: 2,251 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns as a sophomore, 3,151 yards and 45 touchdowns as a junior, and 2,499 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior. Gray s a three-time Mr. Tennessee Football, a two-time Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, and set the state high school record with 138 career touchdowns.

“He has been smashing records since middle school, and he was on pace to break some records at Tennessee,” Ray said. “I would expect him to receive serious NFL looks after a year in Lincoln Riley’s system.”

Published Jan 29, 2021

JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.