When you look at Texas Longhorns recruiting classes, you usually see a list full of four and five star recruits that just about everyone wants. This year’s class is still full of talented players, but there are a few recruits that could be underrated in terms of recruiting rankings. One recruits sticks out most to me: Marble Falls High School wide receiver Garrett Gray.
The 6-foot-4.5 inch wide-out could hardly be called undersized or underdeveloped, but as a consensus three star recruit, Gray may be the biggest steal the Longhorns get in 2014.
Gray actually wasn’t recruited hard by in state schools like Texas A&M, Texas Tech or Baylor. He runs a 4.45 40-yard dash and has great size, but why wasn’t he looked at by other rival schools? It could be that Gray is right in the back yard of the ‘Horns. Gray is from nearby Marble Falls, about 50 minutes from downtown Austin. Marble Falls didn’t have a great year in 2012, going 4-6, but Gray did all he could to help his team out. The upcoming senior caught 82 passes for 1,226 yards and 17 touchdowns- thats quite the accomplishment for a team that had a losing record.
With Gray’s size and speed, he’s sure to be a mismatch for opposing defensive backs when he ends up on the field for the ‘Horns. It wouldn’t surprise me though if he tacked on 20 or so pounds and played tight-end at the 40-acres as Gray lined up at the tight-end spot from time to time at Marble Falls.
Gray has a lot of athleticism and also plays basketball for the Mustangs. Something that really shows Grays potential is that he was really a basketball first athlete who played his first year of organized football last year. If he can put up numbers like that with very little experience, he should really impress during his senior season and on into college when he learns the ins and outs of the game.
He seems pretty solid to the ‘Horns and if he does sign his National Letter of Intent, watch out because he may be the biggest surprise of this class.
Gray and the Mustangs play their first game of the 2013 season on August 30 on the road against LaGrange High School. Former Southlake Carroll and North Texas head coach Todd Dodge will be in his second year as the head coach of Marble Falls and they will be looking to make the playoffs with the help of Gray.
With the recent struggles within the Texas football program of the past few years, an underrated, overachieving player like Gray could be just what the program needs.
