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Johnathan Gray, RB, Texas: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

By Erik Lambert

Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray (32) runs the ball in the second quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray (32) runs the ball in the second quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are always hidden gems coming out of college that teams might overlook.  Could Johnathan Gray be one of them looking towards the 2016 NFL draft?  Here is his scouting report.

Position: RB

School: Texas

Year: Senior

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 207 lbs

History:

A high school superstar who was two-time Mr. Football USA and won three-straight state titles and scoring a national record 205 touchdowns. To top it off he was a three-time district champion in the 100-meter dash. Committed to Texas but never seemed able to find his groove. His highest rushing total was 780 yards in 2013. Unfortunately a major part of the issue was injury. He tore his right Achilles that year and has since torn his left Achilles following the 2015 season.

STRENGTHS:

  • Quickness and agility to make some nasty cuts, causing defenders to whiff.
  • Strong lower body allows him to break tackles and reach peak acceleration right away.

This play showcases the upside of what Gray can do in one sequence.  He attacks the line of scrimmage and instead of avoiding the traffic in the hole, he takes the hits and then keeps the legs churning to power through it.  After getting back to full acceleration, he fakes the next tackler out of his shoes before getting down the sideline for a long gain.

  • Tough enough. Can take the hits defenders dish out and also returned strong from Achilles injury.
  • While cutting is his strength, he doesn’t lack aggressiveness. Gets north-south right away. Not a lot of dancing to his game.
  • At his most dangerous when he gets to the second level, sees the field well and finds the lanes in a hurry.

WEAKNESSES:

  • Not overly fast. Easy enough to track down even after he’s broken into the open field.
  • Hand use, both in blocking and stiff arm are lacking. Doesn’t seem to take the little things seriously enough.
  • Not afraid to block but just not that good at it. Often late to react and takes bad angles in pass protection.
  • Doesn’t have the athleticism to “create” for himself. Easy to bottle up if he doesn’t get the blocking help.
  • Inconsistent hands. Sometimes catches the ball just fine but become unreliable when he’s in a contested situation.

Pro Comparison: Duke Johnson

From the toughness to the downhill mentality and sneaky good ability to cut, Gray has plenty in common with the former Miami standout and now projected Cleveland Browns starter. So far though Johnson has proven to have the same drawback as stated above. When he doesn’t get the best blocking, he’s not the best at creating extra yards. Not known for his speed and athleticism. So much depends on the situation Gray lands in.

Projection: 6th round to UDFA

His size, vision and ability to break tackles won’t go unnoticed on draft day. However, Gray’s lack of overall versatility and injury history will relegate him to the third day. Whichever team ends up making that pick will get a good, solid back who would best be served playing in a committee role where his power and aggressiveness can be put to maximum use. Unfortunately the Achilles injuries put his draft hopes in jeopardy.

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