Texas Football: Former Longhorn DB Jerry Gray Gets HOF Nod

Before The University of Texas became synonymous with the term Defensive Back University (DBU), there was Jerry Gray.

Gray, a legendary defensive back who played for the Longhorns from 1981 to 1984, was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, becoming Texas' 17th player and 19th overall inductee to reach such a pinnacle.

Gray is second behind Nathan Vasher and Noble Doss for career interceptions at UT with 16, helped out by a seven-interception season in 1984. Gray posted 297 career tackles, 16 picks and 20 pass breakups during his career in Austin.

Gray earned All-America honors in 1983 and 1984 before making the jump to the NFL where he was drafted 21st overall to the Los Angeles Rams in the 1985 draft. Gray also had stints with the Houston Oilers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gray made the transition from player to coach and has been a voice in the NFL since 1999, working with the Tennessee Titans (twice), Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks.

Gray went back to the college ranks to become the Longhorns' defensive backs coach for a short while during the 2011 offseason, but promptly accepted the defensive coordinator position with the Titans weeks later.

Bits from the Brass

In the official release from mackbrown-texasfootball.com, Mack Brown said, "What a great honor for Jerry Gray and The University of Texas for him to be selected for the College Football Hall of Fame. We are so proud of everything he's accomplished and proud to have Jerry joining all of the Longhorn greats in the Hall of Fame."

DeLoss Dodds, UT men's athletics director, said of Gray that "he is a guy that totally represented everything a student-athlete ought to be, both on and off the field. He was a great competitor and spectacular player on the field."

Stats from mackbrown-texasfootball.com