UH LB recruit Tyler Gray is the first player from his high school to get a D-IA football scholarship out of high school

SLO = Sanluisobispo.com


About how Tyler Gray is the first player from Templeton High School to go to D-IA team with a scholarship straight from high school, Templeton coach Dave Harper said:
"The youth league kids, they all know who Tyler Gray is. A lot of kids want to be No. 37 next year. I just encourage them to do their best, and some day they will be here." (SLO


SLO Note: "He's believed to be the first player in school history to sign with an FBS program directly out of high school and receive a full ride."

SLO Note: "He also had previously visited Air Force and Cal Poly — his other finalists — and San Jose State had also offered him a scholarship."


Relieved that the recruiting process is behind him, Gray said:
"I'm very excited. I'm definitely glad the whole (process) is over, because it's so stressful, all the things you have to go through for four, five years. So it's a good relief." (SLO)


About how he loved his recruiting trip to Hawaii, Gray said:
"I had the best time on my trip. I got along with people really well. I felt like I was part of the team by the time I left." (SLO)


Harper said that the 6'3", 215-pound Gray will likely be used at UH's joker position:
"where he'll be rushing from either side depending on what the play call was in the huddle." (SLO)


About how it is rare for one of their players to make it to D-IA football, Harper said:
"It comes around very seldom, and he's worked very hard to accomplish these things. When I first saw him play, there was something special about him." (SLO)


About how Gray can serve as motivation to future Templeton players, Harper said:
"If it motivates kids to stay in school, to do the right things so that they, too, can accomplish their dreams, that's what I think is the biggest thing with him. We'll have to have some kids fill some big shoes, but we think we have some kids that want to do that. And now, seeing what can happen, how hard work will pay off for you, it's exciting for us." (SLO)


http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/02/02/1468554/this-eagle-to-land-in-hawaii.html#ixzz1DS7UZ0fz