Jonathan Gray (Athlon Consensus #7)

The Analysis

PROS: Few players have ever been as productive as Gray – as his 109 touchdowns in two seasons will attest. He has been a workhorse back for Aledo. But it is his speed and explosiveness that makes him an elite recruit. He makes one cut and can hit a crease instantly. He can score from anywhere on the field and is a threat to score on every play. He shows tremendous balance, vision and cutting ability. He can start and stop with the best in the nation and rarely takes the big hit. Despite being a bit undersized, he has a muscular build that looks like it can handle more weight (which he will need).

CONS: Clearly the level of competition is not an issue, but the workload is much higher than most high school backs. He has carried the ball 862 times entering his senior season – which will put him close to 1,200 carries as a prep back. And because size, lower body strength and power could be an issue on the smaller player, Gray will need to add some weight immediately. He rarely gets hit, but also needs to work on staying upright longer. He does not break many tackles.

BIO: Set the national high school record with 205 career touchdowns scored. Finished his final season with a state championship, 3,888 yards rushing and 65 touchdowns en route to a Gatorade National Player of the Year award. Texas Gatorade Player of the Year. Class 4A All-State. Father James Gray played at Texas Tech and in the NFL.