2020 Season Countdown: #17 Vincent Gray
Name: Vincent Gray
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Rochester (MI) Adams
Position: Cornerback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #31 #4
Last year: I ranked Gray #25 and said he would be a backup cornerback (LINK). He made 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 5 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 71
Gray entered the 2019 season as a likely backup to Lavert Hill and Ambry Thomas, but for a short time, it looked like he might be pressed into significantly more duty when Thomas was hospitalized with colitis. Luckily, Thomas recovered and Gray had some wiggle room to grow and learn. Gray made one start throughout the season and got a pretty good grade from PFF, notching 5 pass breakups in that backup role. While he didn’t make many big plays, he was in position to flail and be physical and avoid getting beaten much.
This year Gray was expected to be the #2 corner behind Thomas, but Thomas has opted out in favor of preparing for the NFL Draft. That leaves Gray as perhaps the #1 corner on the team as the most experienced guy. All other options have been garbage timers or haven’t seen the field in college yet. Gray has good length, but his speed and quickness are a little bit of a question mark. He makes me nervous if he’s matched up against some of the better receivers in the league, but cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich and defensive coordinator Don Brown have worked wonders with corners overall, with the lone exception of when they come up against Ohio State.
Prediction: Starting cornerback
