Eric Gray
2023 · Round 5 · Pick 172 · RB · New York Giants
Eric Gray is from Memphis and went to Lausanne Collegiate School. He was a three-time Tennessee Mr. Football and two-time state Gatorade Player of the Year; as a junior he ran for 3,151 yards and 45 touchdowns. He decommitted from Michigan and signed with Tennessee, where his 246 rushing yards against Vanderbilt set a school freshman record. He transferred to Oklahoma in 2021. In 2022 he took over the Sooners' backfield with 1,366 rushing yards (Wikipedia's figure) and 11 touchdowns, including 211 yards against West Virginia, and was named second-team All-Big 12. The New York Giants drafted him in the fifth round, 172nd overall, in 2023, and he played for them through 2025 as a back and kick returner. His infobox lists a 2026 stint with the Cleveland Browns and no current team. The Oklahoman wrote on August 3, 2022: "Gray was Tennessee's go-to back in 2020. He had team-highs of 772 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns on 157 carries as a sophomore." Associated Press State Wire: Oklahoma wrote on August 14, 2023: "Rookie running back Eric Gray is being given an opportunity to be the kick returner for the New York Giants."
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Gray_(American_football | https://grokipedia.com/page/Eric_Gray | https://soonersports.com/sports/2019/8/13/208798496 | https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrayEr01.htm | The Oklahoman, 2022-08-03, "RB ready 'show everybody who Eric Gray is'" (via NewsBank Oklahoma News Source) | Associated Press State Wire: Oklahoma, 2023-08-14, "Giants rookie Eric Gray getting a chance to return kicks and punts" (via NewsBank Oklahoma News Source)