Welcome to SKOL Search!
This series will be your guide to the 2023 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.
The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at wide receiver, running back, cornerback and both interior and edge pass rusher.
The Vikings are slated to have five picks and they need to make the most out of them.
Background
Eric Gray
- Oklahoma
- Transferred from Tennessee
- Height-5094
- Weight-207 lbs
- Fourth-year senior
- 4-Star recruit per 247 Sports
- Stats: 549 carries, 3,089 yards, 5.6 YPC, 21 touchdowns, 99 receptions, 827 yards, 8.4 YPC, 5 touchdowns
- Games watched: Texas 2021, Texas 2022, Kansas 2022, West Virginia 2022
Strengths
As a smaller back, Gray is built well. He is strong in his lower half and looks bigger than his size would indicate.
The first thing that jumps out about Gray is his patience and it grew exponentially throughout this past season. Until his senior year, Gray was never the feature back, which explains the growth this past season. He understands where his blockers are supposed to be and follows them well.
Along with being patient, his feet are incredibly soft and quick. They are always moving ready for the next cut or exploding forward. Here, he keeps his feet moving and once the hole opens up, he explodes forward and gets a nice gain.
When defenders dive after his feet, he has enough contact baalance and strength to break through and continue on his path. As a receiver, Gray can run everything you need him to out of the backfield and has soft hands. He has only six drops in 121 targets (4.96%).
Weaknesses
It’s no secret that Gray isn’t the biggest back and that comes across in multiple ways . He is an effort blocker, but doesn’t quite have the technique down. As a likely third-down back, that will be something that he needs to figure out.
The other main concern with Gray is his lack of top speed. He has the initial burst, but defenders will catch up to him. A 70 yard run gets stopped at about 40-50 yards. It’s not the end of the world, but does limit his ceiling.
His vision, while it has grown to be a strength, was somewhat of a struggle early on this year and prior. He was running into his own players often and preventing big gains. This will be something to monitor moving forward to see if the growth was real or an anomaly.
Overview
| Vision | 7.7/10 |
| Cutback | 8.1/10 |
| Long Speed | 3.3/5 |
| Contact Balance | 8.0/10 |
| Pass Blocking | 7.1/10 |
| Break/Avoid Tackles | 13.5/15 |
| Durability | 7.8/10 |
| Receiving | 8.0/10 |
| Quickness | 7.4/10 |
| Ball Security | 8.0/10 |
| Grade | 79.0/100 Third Round |
Gray is a really good player that likely is a third-down back to start his career and becomes an important player in a rotation within two seasons. If he figures out the right technique in pass blocking, Gray will have a long career in the NFL because being a third-down back will keep him employed.
With how deep this running back class is, Gray is the type of value you can get in round five or six and feel great about the inherent value.
