Quick Hits: Giants Round 5 Draft Pick RB Eric Gray

The New York Giants had to wait a while to get back into the action on Day 3 of the NFL draft. When they finally picked again in the fifth round, they went back to adding weapons on the offensive side of the ball for offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and quarterback Daniel Jones.

This time they increased the depth in the backfield with running back Eric Gray, the All-Big 12 second-team performer from Oklahoma. In 2022, Gray rushed for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Sooners.

In a perfect world, Gray would be competing for depth in the backfield, but if there was a reason that Saquon Barkley could not line up on Sundays, Gray would have the opportunity to fill a similar role as Barkley in the offense. While Gray is not Barkley, he brings a very similar skill set to the position and offers fresh legs for the offensive staff to deploy.

RELATED: Giants Add RB Eric Gray in Fifth Round of Draft

What He Brings

The 5-foot-10, 207-pound Memphis native is a decisive back who can quickly plant his foot in the ground and get north and south. One of his best attributes is his ability to make cuts without losing speed, which allows him to eat up defensive pursuit angles.

He is a good route runner for a back and possesses soft hands to easily haul in passes. He is a great check-down option because he can make things happen when he gets the ball in his hands in the open field. He is also not afraid to stick his nose in the fire and blow up second-level blitzers.

Gray started his career at the University of Tennessee, where he spent two seasons in the Volunteers running back rotation. In his freshman year, he led the Volunteers in 2019 with four rushing touchdowns and 539 rushing yards on 101 carries in 13 games as a reserve.

He also had 13 receptions and a touchdown through the air. He amassed 120 all-purpose yards and scored a game-winning 16-yard touchdown run during his MVP performance in the 2020 TaxSlayer Bowl.

As a sophomore, Gray was the team leader in rushing yards with 772 and touchdowns with four. He also added 30 receptions for 254 yards and two touchdowns through the air in only nine games that season.

After his sophomore season, Gray transferred to Oklahoma. His junior season was quiet as he rushed 78 times for 412 yards and two touchdowns. He also hauled in 23 receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He also added some value as a kick returner making four returns for an average of 18 yards per return.

He finally carried the load during his senior season, and his production exploded. He averaged 6.4 yards rushing and 6.9 yards per reception in 2022.

Gray comes from a running back pedigree. His father, Eric, ran the ball for HBCU Tennessee State, and his uncle, Maurice Hall, ran the ball for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The younger Gray has the opportunity to join a backfield with a couple of veterans in Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida, as well as youngsters Gary Brightwell and Jashaun Corbin.

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