New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: RB Eric Gray

Nick Falato breaks down New York Giants fifth-round pick Eric Gray's tape.

Eric Gray, RB

Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 207 lbs.
Class: Senior
School: Oklahoma
Age: 23 (born 11/4/1999)

Combine Measurements

Arm length: 29 ⅝”
Wingspan: 71 ⅜”
Hand size: 9 ¾”
40-yard-dash: 4:62
10-yard-split: 1.55
Vertical jump: 37.5”
Broad jump: 9’10”
Short-shuttle: 4.10
Three cone: 7.18
Bench press: 12

A former four-star recruit out of Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was the 6th recruit from the state during the 2019 cycle. Gray originally attended the University of Tennessee before transferring to Oklahoma. Michigan was heavily involved in Gray’s recruiting process, but Gray decided it was too far from home. He played quarterback before switching to running back in high school; he was the primary reason his high school went 46-4, and he set a state record of 138 career touchdowns. Gray also ran track in high school.

Notables

Gray was productive at both Tennesee and Oklahoma. Gray decided to leave the Vols once former Giants’ coach Jeremey Pruitt was fired. [STATS]

Gray was the MVP of the Tax Slayer Gator Bowl vs. Indiana in 2019 for the Vols. He had 86 yards and a touchdown with two catches for 34 yards. He was Second Team-All-Big 12 in 2022 after leading the Big-12 in rushing with 1,366 yards (6.4 YPC). Gray attended the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he was voted the American Team’s practice player of the week at running back.

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Strengths

• Excellent short-area athletic ability (Change of direction, lateral agility)
• Very good explosiveness off the cut
• Fluid in his lower-body
• Quicker than fast - good initial burst
• Very sudden and instinctive - makes defenders look silly
• Juke fake is impressive - stays low, sells the move, burst out of the plant
• Very elusive in tight spaces - slippery - can make alley defenders whiff
• Above average spin and balance recollection on the outside
• Runs low - low center of gravity presents tough targets for defenders
• Had 58 missed tackles forced - ranked 23rd in the FBS - 11th among draft eligible RBs
• Excellent vision and deciviness when square to LOS
• Good overall spatial awareness when approaching the LOS
• Good job reacting to LB flow and finding cut-back lanes
• Gets skinny through narrow alleys - efficient feet
• Can run through arm tackles - solid overall contact balance
• Functional inside and outside the tackles as a runner
• Has receiving upside (99 career catches)
• Willing and smart blitz pick up - not the strongest, but can get in the way
• Three down upside

Weaknesses

• Smaller frame
• Had five career fumbles
• Most of his runs were out of the SG
• Lacks breakaway speed
• Modest overall acceleration when he opens his stride
• Isn’t a pile mover - adequate power at the tackle point
• Frame hinders blocking upside
• Wasn’t a huge problem in his profile, but he would get too cute at times instead of planting his foot in the ground and taking what was available.

Summary

What Eric Gray lacks in breakaway speed is made up for with his instincts and short-area athletic ability. Gray is not an easy player to target or tackle when defenders have him squared up; his low running style, combined with his short stature, presents a difficult task for defenders because Gray’s excellent instincts and slipperiness allow him to evade and force tough tackle attempts.

He lacks breakaway speed and will get tracked down; he’s physical, but he won’t bully defenders with strength at the next level. He is a decisive, smart runner who does a good job finding holes and making players miss in the alley. He would make a good change of pace back for Saquon Barkley with the upside to form a solid committee if Barkley leaves after the 2023 season. 

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