Eric Gray Appears To Be A Younger Chris Evans
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Michigan’s Elite 1-Day camp drew plenty of exceptional talent on Friday at the Big House, especially at running back. Although class of 2019 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star Noah Cain was the headline visitor at the position, there was another outstanding back in attendance as well – class of 2019 Memphis Lausanne Collegiate School Eric Gray.
Gray does not have a star rating by Rivals yet, but has racked up quite the offer list so far, holding offers from the likes of LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Stanford and Tennessee. Friday’s camp was his first time in Ann Arbor, and it did not disappoint.
“I love it here,” Gray said. “It’s a great atmosphere – everybody loves football here. There’s just a great vibe all around this place.”
Gray said he was obviously impressed with the football side of things during his Michigan visit, but explained that he was actually more impressed by something else.
“I like when coaches talk to me about the academics just as much as football,” he said. “I go to a private school, so the academics are hard there. I know I’d be challenged both on and off the field if I were to come here one day.”
Gray’s relationship with Michigan actually began not too long ago, when Jay Harbaugh swung by Memphis to pay him a visit. Since then, the 5-10, 177-pounder explained that Harbaugh is the coach he has kept in contact with the most.
“I really like what this coaching staff is doing here,” Gray said. “I like the offense they run, because that was my main thing – trying to see if it would be a fit for me. I was talking to their running back #12 [sophomore Chris Evans] out here, and he was saying he’s the exact type of running back that I am.”
Evans, who helped work the camp, is a speedy, shifty back, just like Gray appears to be. The Memphis native ran for 2,215 yards and 38 touchdowns last season, while averaging 9.6 yards per carry. He also hauled in 219 receiving yards and four touchdowns, and racked up some impressive hardware as a result.
“I won Mr. Football for the D-2 Class A,” he said. “I also won Offensive Player of the Year for the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis.
“Michigan, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri and Memphis – those five schools are now coming at me the hardest,” he said.
“I think Michigan will be in it [until the end]. They’ll definitely be one of my leaders.”
Potentially adding another Chris Evans-esque running back to Michigan’s future backfield certainly wouldn’t hurt anything.
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