Danny Gray WR Scouting Report

[Jets Global]

Danny Gray NFL Draft Profile Position: Wide Receiver School: SMU Current Year: Senior Height: 6'2" Weight: 199 pounds
Danny Gray Scouting Report Gray’s straight-line speed poses a threat on go routes, it also translates well in other areas of his game. He is a dangerous after-the-catch threat. Once he has the ball in his hands, there’s little hope of catching him or stopping him. Case in point: his career-long reception against TCU where he took the ball 68 yards across the field, leaving a trail of defenders in his wake. Danny isn’t all “hit the boosters and say goodbye,” however. He can manipulate his speed to create separation. There were multiple examples of him varying his speed along his route to lull his coverage into a false sense of security before accelerating with incredible explosion. Gray is an explosive athlete with stop-start ability. Furthermore, he showcases good lower body strength and contact balance which helps his after-the-catch ability. Gray’s scouting report also reveals impressive attributes at the catch point. He’s a good vertical athlete who can go up and contest for the ball. He possesses excellent ball tracking and body control to make the most difficult catches appear simple. That also includes being able to get down and secure the ball on low passes without it hitting the turf. The SMU WR has a good catch radius and solid hands.
Areas for Improvement Gray possesses many alluring characteristics as a wide receiver prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, there are some areas for improvement that will potentially limit where he is drafted in April. Gray isn’t the most effective in this regard. He isn’t the most physical when blocking, and there is room for technical improvement too. As a result, he is frequently overwhelmed too easily. On multiple occasions, Gray’s attempt at hand placement saw him miss his opponent completely. His ability against press coverage will be something that could define his stock. He wasn’t exposed to significant snaps against top-tier cornerbacks in press. As a result, he’s not the most physical or technically refined receiver in this regard. Gray needs to improve on using his hands at the line of scrimmage to help gain separation against press coverage. Although he possesses a good catch radius and solid hands, Gray needs to ensure he maintains possession through contact across the middle of the field. While he showcased ability in this regard, it was inconsistent across his tape.
Danny Gray Career at School As the third-ranked WR in the JUCO recruiting class of 2020, there was an air of expectation for Gray on his arrival at SMU. He was named to Phil Steele’s All-AAC fourth-team before even taking a snap at the FBS level. However, he immediately set about proving those preconceptions correct even amongst the disruption of the 2020 season. On his debut against Texas State, Gray averaged 18 yards per catch on his way to a 72-yard day. Gray’s first touchdown would come in his next game against North Texas, starting a run of four consecutive games with a receiving score. Bookending those touchdowns was a then-career-high 133 yards outing against Tulane. He’d end the season with 448 yards and 4 touchdowns while adding 2 more scores as a rusher. Gray’s junior season served as an appetizer for a standout senior campaign. Tulane once again felt his wrath, this time to the tune of a new career-high 140 yards. The TCU team he was once committed to sacrificed a 68-yard reception, the longest of his career. Gray recorded two 100-plus-yard games and three games with multiple touchdowns. Those included a clash with Memphis that saw the SMU WR come up just two yards short of another century of receiving yards. Gray landed on many college football watchlists. Those included the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver, and the Paul Hornung Award, which recognizes exceptional versatility. After tallying 803 yards and 9 touchdowns, Gray earned first-team All-AAC honors. However, his invite to the Senior Bowl might be the most important of all. There, Gray will showcase the skill set and hard-working character that has taken him from academically ineligible to the verge of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Danny Gray NFL Draft Player Profile Gray never set foot on the field for the Tigers, having failed to meet the academic standard requirements for D1 football. “When I didn’t qualify for D1 ball, it hit me hard,” Gray told the Rocky Top Insider later in his career. “I had to fight within myself and tell myself don’t give up, keep working hard.” Gray attended Blinn College, famously the home of Cam Newton in 2009. As a freshman, Gray tallied 15 catches for 409 yards and 6 touchdowns. During his sophomore season, he snagged 54 receptions for 877 yards and 8 scores. His performances earned him first-team Southwest Junior College Conference honors. Gray attracted offers from Auburn, Tennessee, Florida State, and Missouri. As a Texas native, he committed to TCU before flipping his commitment to SMU, citing the atmosphere created by their coaching staff and the pass-happy “Air Raid” system in place at University Park.