Tyreik Gray to Houston: Cougars Land 3-Star RB Prospect

Tyreik Gray, the 3-star running back from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, has decided to attend the University of Houston, the school announced Wednesday. 

Photo credit: 247Sports

Despite a 3-star rating, per 247Sports.com, Gray is one of the smartest running backs in this class. He's not a big player at 5'11", 187 pounds, nor is he the fastest guy (4.68 40-yard dash time, via ESPN.com), but few players see the field like he does. 

Based on the scouting reports, Gray sounds a lot like current NFL running back Frank Gore. He's small in stature but waits for blocks to develop and always gets positive yards by falling forward. 

The only significant knock on Gray is his lack of ability in the passing game. He has good hands, but he isn't polished coming out of the backfield at this point. 

Gray was on the radar for the University of Houston, which is where he was raised, but he announced on Twitter in December that the firing of Tony Levine narrowed his choices down to three:

The crystal ball predictions had Arizona State listed as the overwhelming favorite for Gray, generating 70 percent of the vote, with Baylor getting the remaining 30 percent. Evidently, Gray had a change of heart and recommitted to the Cougars.

Because of Gray's slight stature and less-than-ideal straight-line speed, he flew under the radar this recruiting season. That's good news for his new school, as this young star is certainly not lacking in confidence. 

Combine that with an innate ability to read defenders and use of his small stature to hide behind bigger offensive linemen, and Gray has the potential to be a solid running back at the college level.