After backup role for OU football in 2021, RB ready 'show everybody who Eric Gray is'
NORMAN — When running back Eric Gray Jr. carries the football for Oklahoma, a few things may catch your attention. His versatility. His decision-making skills. His ability to dazzle in the open field.
But one detail that gets lost in the blur rests on his left shoulder.
Mixed into a black-and-white tattoo sleeve is a pair of street signs.
"Road To Riches," the tattoo reads.
That road hasn't been a straight shot for Gray, who has faced a few detours throughout his college journey. The senior will be OU's undisputed workhorse in the backfield heading into this season, but he hasn't forgotten how he reached that point.
Gray was Tennessee's go-to back in 2020. He had team-highs of 772 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns on 157 carries as a sophomore.
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Gray figured to return to his star role at Tennessee for his junior season. But when head coach Jeremy Pruitt was fired in January 2021 following an in-house investigation into alleged recruiting improprieties, Gray entered the transfer portal and landed at OU.
Gray was expected to be half of a two-headed monster alongside redshirt junior running back Kennedy Brooks, but the pairing proved to be lopsided.
Brooks ran for a career-high 1,253 yards and 13 touchdowns on 198 carries last season. Gray ran for a career-low 412 yards and a pair of scores on 78 carries.
"Last year, I kind of just stayed in the background and didn't really say too much," Gray said Tuesday at the Sooners' media day. "I think it was more of me learning. I needed to learn to further my game mentally."
One person who helped Gray stay the course was his father, Eric Gray Sr.
After playing running back at Tennessee State from 1985-87, the elder Eric stayed in the state and began coaching at the high school level. That included Lausanne High School, where Eric Jr. starred until he graduated in 2019.
"I'm a coach's son, so I've seen so many players kind of do it the wrong way," Eric Jr. said. "I need to make sure I'm doing everything I can to succeed and make sure I'm not harming myself."
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So when Eric Jr. struggled to carve out a role last season, his father told him exactly what he needed to hear.
"Just keep going," Eric Sr. told his son. "They can't keep a good man down. Keep playing and your time will come."
That approach is paying off.
Brooks is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Eric Jr. now sits atop OU's running back depth chart.
It's a position group for OU that features four newcomers, making Eric Jr.'s role as a veteran returnee a crucial part of the group's success.
"The thing about Eric is that he always handles himself like a pro," OU running backs coach DeMarco Murray said. "Whether it's ups or downs, great times or bad times, you know what you're going to get from him. He's always going to be a selfless individual.
"He's a team guy. I didn't think his work ethic could get any better, but he has worked even harder and is leading the right way."
OU is expected to lean heavily on its run game under offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who held the same position at Ole Miss last season. The Rebels ran for 2,929 yards in 2021, which ranked 12th in the nation.
The responsibility of leading OU's run game falls on the shoulders of Eric Jr., but the veteran running back is more than happy to be behind the wheel.
"I think this is a perfect offense for our guys and for me," Eric Jr. said. "There's most definitely a chip on my shoulder to go out there and show everybody who Eric Gray is."
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Linking with Lebby
Lebby and OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh first crossed paths in 2001.
Lebby was a junior offensive tackle at Andrews High School when he began to capture the attention of Division I programs. Among those schools was Texas Tech, where Bedenbaugh was serving as a graduate assistant.
A former offensive lineman himself, Bedenbaugh helped the Red Raiders recruit Lebby.
“It’s crazy,” Bedenbaugh said. “It shows you how old I am.”
Lebby ultimately committed to OU, but he and Bedenbaugh would cross paths again several years later on the recruiting trail.
“I really got to know him when he was at Baylor and we recruited in the same areas,” said Bedenbaugh, who joined OU in 2013. “I was always really intrigued with their offense. He didn't give away many secrets back then.”
Lebby no longer has to keep those secrets close to the vest.
Now at OU, Lebby is able to work closely with Bedenbaugh as the two try to build on an offense that tied for 26th in the nation in yards per game last season (437.2).
“It's exciting,” Bedenbaugh said. “He's a great dude and a great coach… I'm as excited as I've been in 20-something years to get going.”
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Injury updates
OU head coach Brent Venables didn’t have much to report on when it came to injuries the team is dealing with as it begins fall camp.
“We’re probably 99 percent healthy,” Venables said. “There’s nothing, really that we’re concerned about. Within the first couple of weeks, we’ll have everybody ready to go. I feel great about the health of our team and the gains that we’ve made in the weight room…
“I think our guys are in a really good, confident and strong position heading into camp.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Eric Gray is poised for a breakout season with Sooners
