Oklahoma lands another Vol from the transfer portal in RB Eric Gray
Oklahoma on Wednesday landed its third Tennessee Volunteer from the NCAA Transfer Portal in less than two weeks.
Running back Eric Gray, who entered the portal two weeks ago, announced his commitment to OU on Twitter.
Gray was a 4-star prospect by 247 Sports and Rivals when he came out of Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis in the class of 2019. He chose Tennessee over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Florida, LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Stanford, Texas A&M, West Virginia and others.
He was the No. 3-ranked all-purpose back in the nation, according to Rivals, and No. 7 as ranked by 247 Sports.
As a Vols freshman in 2019, Gray rushed 101 times for 539 yards and four touchdowns, including a 94-yard scamper, and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.
Eric Gray vs. Missouri
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During his sophomore year, Gray carried the ball 157 times for 772 yards and four TDs and averaged 4.9 yards per carry.
His eligibility status isn't entirely clear. According to ESPN's Mark Schlabach, Gray was held out of the Vols' regular-season finale against Texas A&M for undisclosed reasons. Sources told ESPN that Gray's absence was related to the compliance inquiry.
He came out of high school as an all-purpose running back, and he fulfilled that reputation during his two seasons in Knoxville by catching 43 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns.
In two full seasons, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Gray played in 22 games and compiled 1,311 yards from scrimmage.
Eric Gray vs. Auburn
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His highlights include a career-best 246 yards and three touchdowns in a 2019 victory over Vanderbilt that included his 94-yard run, as well as 33-carry, 173-yard performance in 2020 at Auburn.
In 2019, he was named the Gator Bowl MVP after finishing with 120 all-purpose yards, the game-winning touchdown and even recovered an onside kick in a victory over Indiana. That included 14 carries for 86 yards, including the game-winning touchdown run, to go with 34 yards on two pass receptions.
Eric Gray vs. Florida
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Gray was on the preseason Doak Walker Award watch list, and also earned preseason All-SEC accolades (fourth-team from Athlon.
He’ll join UT teammates Wanya Morris, an offensive tackle who announced his transfer to OU last week, and Key Lawrence, a safety who made his announcement Tuesday.
OU’s backfield in 2021 now appears stacked, with two-time 1,000-yard rusher Kennedy Brooks opting back in, along with rising sophomores Marcus Major (110 yards and a TD in the Cotton Bowl against Florida) and Seth McGowan (73 yards rushing, 70 receiving against the Gators).
