Michigan high school running back Jonas Gray has many of the nation’s top college football programs watching his every move this summer.
The 5-foot-10, 213-pound Gray is one of the nation’s top power backs – ranked No. 47 nationally by Rivals.com — and has a list of seven schools but said the University of Louisville would “definitely be in my top five.”
Gray said he’s still considering Nebraska, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan State and Wisconsin but noted when he narrows his list to five schools in the coming months that the Cardinals are likely going to be there.
“Louisville would be a very good offense for me,” Gray said. “Depth would be a factor for me, I have to see because they signed some good (backs) last year. But I am definitely very interested in Louisville.”
As a junior at Detroit Country Day, Gray rushed for 1,252 yards and 19 touchdowns in only seven games. He had 797 yards rushing and made it into the end zone 15 times in nine games as a sophomore.
Gray has run as fast a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and said despite his gaudy statistics his best attributes as a player are his vision and blocking.
“I’m able to see the holes and creases and then hit them,” he said. “I’m the type of runner that can bang it inside or run over somebody. I like making the first person miss. I like blocking and think (Louisville’s) blocking scheme is perfect for me.”
U of L also has another in with Gray. He’s become friends with incoming freshman quarterback Matt Simms and the two have talked a lot over the past year or so about the Cardinals’ program.
“We talked a lot – even before he opened his recruitment back up – about Louisville, and he’s a great guy,” Gray said. “I think with me and then him at quarterback that it could be a powerful offense.”
Gray, who said he liked watching former U of L big back Michael Bush play for the Cardinals, said he also took notice when the Cardinals beat Wake Forest to capture the Orange Bowl last season.
“I like the program,” he said.
As far as a decision, Gray said he isn’t expecting to make a final choice until after the summer but the latest he would likely go would be early October.
“A lot of people say they don’t like (the recruiting process) but I don’t mind it at all,” Gray said. “I’m having fun with it right now.”
