The wait is officially over for former North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray, who was selected with the No. 106 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Gray spent all four seasons of his college career with the Tar Heels, ending his time in Chapel with 369 career tackles to rank within the top 10 all-time in program history. Also adding 30 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 18 pass breakups, five interceptions, six forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries to his impressive career stat line.
Gray played high school football at Audrey Kell High School in Charlotte (NC) where he was a three-star prospect, ranked the No. 810 overall recruit and the No. 87 linebacker in the country in the 2020 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He was named First-Team All-ACC twice in his career, a Second-Team All-American by Sporting News and Pro Football Focus in 2022, and a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2023. Ranked third in the FBS for total tackles in 2022 and top 20 in the nation in the most recent college football season.
Gray’s measurables don’t jump off the page, standing at 6-foot-1.5, 234 pounds and running a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at this year’s NFL Combine. But there was no denying that he was constantly around the ball during his North Carolina career, displaying a high football IQ as a sideline-to-sideline linebacker who racked up a ton of tackles. Which he’ll look to continue doing at the next level.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Cedric Gray
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein gave Gray a fourth-round grade ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, also breaking down how he projects the former Tar Heel playing a role with his new team.
“Gray’s production, length and play speed will work in his favor, but he is better suited playing as a weak-side ‘backer where he can run and chase the action. Finding and securing his run fits can be an issue due to a lack of play strength and technique near the line of scrimmage,” Zierlein said. “His instincts are just average, but Gray can be a disruptive defender when playing proactively and taking aggressive, downhill shots rather than waiting on the action. His playing style won’t be for everyone, but he does have backup potential if he’s allowed to cut it loose and play fast rather than with force.”
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