Notre Dame thanks Nebraska for this guy:
Published Friday | August 3, 2007
NU Football: Huskers secure valued RB
BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
<table> <tbody><tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
NU football schedule</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
2008 NU football commitments</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
On the Web: Rivals.com</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
On the Web: NU Football</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td>
</td> <td id="cell1" style="font-size: 9px; background-image: url(neo-images/owh/nav/button/gray_middle.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; color: rgb(0, 102, 153);" onmousedown="setCellFocus('cell1', 'div1', '1', null, null, false)" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='pointer';" onmouseout="this.style.cursor='default';">RELATED</td> <td>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: thin solid rgb(212, 212, 212);" width="99%"> </td> </tr></tbody></table> <table> <tbody><tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
NU football schedule</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
2008 NU football commitments</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
On the Web: Rivals.com</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;">•</td> <td>
On the Web: NU Football</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
LINCOLN — Nebraska got its offensive tackle in September and its quarterback in May.
Jonas Gray
On Friday, NU snagged a nationally recognized running back recruit as Jonas Gray of Southfield, Mich., spurned in-state Michigan and Michigan State, plus Louisville and national champion Florida for the Huskers.
Gray, a 5-foot-10, 213-pound senior at Country Day High School in suburban Detroit, ranks as the No. 4 player at his position by rivals.com and the No. 1 prospect in Michigan.
He visited Nebraska last month, driving 12 hours to Lincoln, he said, and was swept up in the momentum of the NU recruiting class. The Huskers' commitment list includes 20 players — easily its biggest haul by August — and features offensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler of Lincoln Southwest, quarterback Blaine Gabbert of Ballwin, Mo., and now Gray as offensive cornerstones.
"The recruiting class was a big thing," Gray said Friday at a press conference at his school as he donned a red Nebraska hat. "I talked to a few of the recruits, and they said, 'Once you visit Nebraska, it's not going to be like anyplace else.' I didn't really believe it, because I had my mind set on another school already."
While at NU, though, Gray felt a connection.
I got that gut feeling," he said. "It was the facilities, the personable staff and players."
He also spoke highly of Nebraska's athletic and academic tradition.
Country Day coach Dan MacLean described Gray as a "bruising runner with breakaway speed."
"He's a guy who always has a chance to go to the distance," MacLean said. "And I think he's got a tremendous amount of potential to get a lot better. He's a guy who's going to do better the more carries he gets."
Gray was named MVP among running backs at the Nike training camp last spring in West Lafayette, Ind. He rushed for 1,252 yards and 19 touchdowns last season as a junior at Country Day, the high school known for producing basketball stars Chris Webber and Shane Battier.
On cue with the Huskers, Gray begins preseason practice Monday. MacLean takes his team to Glen Arbor, Mich., for training camp. The coach is expecting big things this fall from Gray.
"Jonas has got a great combination of speed and power," MacLean said. "He's not extremely tall, but he's very well built. This year, I think he wants to be very involved. He's always been a leader. But he's shown through the way he's done things this summer that he wants to do even more of that."
MacLean said Gray shares some attributes with former prep All-American Kevin Grady of Grand Rapids, Mich., the state's all-time leading rusher who now plays at Michigan.
"I do think Jonas is probably faster," MacLean said.
Gray has been clocked at 4.44 seconds over 40 yards.
Country Day teammate Kenny Demens, a 6-1, 225-pound linebacker, is also considering Nebraska. Gray's commitment's may push Demens toward NU, though MacLean said Demens, who visited Lincoln last week, made an unofficial trip Friday to Michigan.
As for turning down the Wolverines and MSU, Gray said, it's not a concern.
"I've got the reaction from a lot of people that they're going to be happy for me wherever I go," Gray said. "I'm going to still represent the state of Michigan. People are glad I'm making the right decision for myself, not just because of what state I'm from."
