Former Patriot running back Jonas Gray trains aspiring youth football players
ROCHESTER — Mason Wattles has lofty goals.
He wants to play football at a Division I college (Oregon would be his first choice because of the green and yellow uniforms) and eventually make it to the NFL.
“He is settled on Oregon,” said Briana Arriel, Mason’s mom. “He wants to be a Duck.”
Although the odds are stacked against him, the 11-year-old from Rochester's Gonic neighborhood is willing to pay a price in his pursuit to beat them. Saturday morning attended a speed and agility clinic, along with five other boys from the area in the same 10-12 age group, conducted by former New England Patriots running back and Super Bowl champion Jonas Gray.
“The main thing is just development,” Gray said. “I want to let them know that there are a number of simple drills that can make them better athletes overall. I’m trying to give them a first-hand look at what it’s like to train with someone who is really skilled in a number of different areas.”
Gray, who has 10 years of experience developing high-performance athletes at the youth and high school levels, is the founder and holistic performance coach for Massachusetts-based Athletes Plus. Local youngsters Boston Otting, Drew Reilly, Seth Allen, Landon Barrett and Shane Donald also participated in Saturday’s clinic.
“I try to motivate these guys and let them know this is about the work you put in and the daily deposits,” Gray said.
“What I hope to get out of it is to get closer to my real-life dream to make it to the NFL,” Wattles said during a brief break between drills Saturday morning. “And I know if I work with him I get his recommendation to the bigger schools, and I can make my dream a reality.”
However, one of his immediate and more realistic goals is winning the Rochester Youth Football League championship next season after his team fell in the semifinals last year. Wattles is currently trying to make a squad called Massachusetts Elite, which is coached by Gray.
“The best kids in New England make that team,” Arriel said. ”It’s a very competitive program.”
Wattles already has some experience with All-America travel teams, having played in such venues as AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
“Mason is going to be a beast,” Gray said. “He’s one of those kids that has the passion for it, wants to get better and constantly asks the right questions. Those are the kids that I really love to work with because once I give them my expertise they’re going to take it and run with it and really develop on their own.”
According to his mom, Wattles has posted some of his workouts on Instagram that even caught the attention of an assistant football coach at the University of Maryland. In addition to playing football, Wattles also wrestles and runs track, and often works out six days a week.
“He has high hopes,” Arriel said. “He has the determination. He knows what he wants.”
Wattles started training with Gray about a month ago and has already seen results. Although he is based in Massachusetts, Gray offered to come to Rochester for Saturday’s session. After playing middle linebacker Wattles is transitioning to running back under Gray’s tutelage.
“He’s helped tremendously with my speed,” Wattles said.
Gray favors small groups and one-on-one instruction.
“He can really focus in on one kid and what they’re struggling with and help them perfect technique and the skill that they’re doing and really break it down and teach them what they need to learn and how to apply it to football on the field,” Arriel said.
Gray's shining moment in NFL with Patriots
Gray also works with college and pro athletes. An undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, he spent five years in the National Football League with four organizations, including the Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gray’s biggest game as a pro came in 2014 with New England. Filling in for an injured teammate, he rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries in a crucial, prime-time win over the Indianapolis Colts, a performance that earned him a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
New England went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona, later that season. Gray appeared in 16 games over three seasons in the NFL, scoring five career touchdowns — all coming with the Patriots.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Super Bowl champ Jonas Gray conducts football clinic at Roger Allen
