WR Donnie Gray
Height: 6'0" Weight: 190 lbs
Hometown: New Haven, CT
High school: Deerfield Academy
Why he chose Northwestern:
Gray chose to attend Northwestern in early March 2020, becoming the first commitment of the Wildcats’ 2021 class. While football played a large role in his decision as he looks forward to working with wide receivers coach Dennis Springer over the next four years, Gray was most attracted to how the school would set him up for success in the long term.
“Northwestern is [an] academic powerhouse being the No. 9 university in the country, along with Coach Fitzgerald focusing more on how to develop his players in life,” Gray told 247 Sports. “So, when I walk out of there with my degree, I’ll have a degree from a Top 10 college and I’ll be ready for the real world.”
Power Five Offers:
Syracuse
Group of Five Offers:
Navy, Temple
Ivy League Offers:
Brown, Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale
Evaluation:
Gray has been lauded as a natural athlete, and the talents he has developed on the track and the basketball court have helped enhance his performance on the field. While the six-foot, 190-pounder was recruited as a wide receiver, his explosive speed and dynamic skill have allowed him to excel on offense, defense, and special teams. In addition, Gray, an SI All-American candidate, has shown he can play with a combination of intuition, aggression and patience, making him a valuable and versatile member of the Wildcat freshman class.
Playing time projection:
The Wildcats enter the 2021-22 season down three of their top wide receivers, losing Ramaud Chiaokhaio-Bowman and Riley Lees to the NFL, and Kyric McGowan to Georgia Tech. While Gray will still face a 16-man depth chart, he may eventually find himself on the field as Northwestern looks for its most productive lineup.
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