SMU Mustangs Land Impressive Walk-On!
Falcon Jeremy Gray will walk-on at SMU in 2009...
Photo By: Jan Johnson / Gameday Magazine
Being the son of a former NFL player certainly has its perks. Ashburn, Virginia athlete Jeremy Gray said that because of his dad, Jerry Gray, he's spent his whole life around some of the best to ever play the game. With his dad becoming an NFL coach shortly after the conclusion of his eight year playing career, Gray has also had the privilege of living in many places around the country.
Gray will walk-on at SMU in 2009. While it may seem hard to fathom, Gray said that there is one slight downfall to having your dad be a former four-time pro bowler.
"The one drawback is that people expect you to live up to your dad's name," said Gray. "Everyone thinks you'll be the same kind of player and leader that he was."
It's been an exciting recruiting process for the 5-foot-11, 188-pounder. Besides several Ivy league schools, he's been hearing from Texas, Texas Tech, Virginia, Maryland and SMU.
The last two years, Gray has been looking into all of his options. He ended up narrowing down his choices between Texas, Maryland and SMU as he visited all three.
"I liked Texas because my dad went there and always growing up I was a Longhorn fan. Growing up in Texas, I wanted to go to UT. Maryland was an hour away from my home and a good ACC school. I knew a couple of players that went to school there that now play in the NFL, too."
There was a special connection that Gray had with SMU.
"My dad actually coached there back in 1995. I knew about the school and knew it was a good academic program and athletic school. I was there from kindergarten through first grade.
"I just remember my elementary school was really close to campus because we lived right off Preston. I remember that it had the whole campus feel."
Gray recently got a reminder of how the Hilltop felt when he took a trip there two weeks ago. His main goal was to once again get familiar with the area and check out a practice.
"It was a great feeling. I really wanted to go back to college in the state of Texas since I was born there. I wanted to go back there for college. The campus felt great with a new vibe that I could feel from being there. The stadium and new facilities are great. I watched the practice and hung out with the guys and everything."
There was a point during that trip that Gray felt that he was home. After visiting both Texas and Virginia, he knew that the feeling he got at SMU was unlike any other.
"Right after I finished up the second day and met with the academic advisors, I then toured the campus. That's when I really felt like that's where I needed to be. I knew that I was going to go there."
In high school, the 2009 graduate played a variety of positions including receiver, kick return, punter return and free safety. The Mustangs will be looking at Gray to contribute at cornerback.
"They say that I'm pretty fast and pretty quick at 188-pounds. I'm pretty good for size. I play towards my strengths against the players weaknesses. I like to expose those. I'm more of a ball hawking type of player and go for the interception and game-changing type plays."
With 4.44 speed, Gray is coming to Dallas as a preferred walk-on and looks to earn a spot immediately. He will be arriving at SMU as soon as he graduates from high school in June. =
