Lausanne's Eric Gray named Tennessee Gatorade football player of year

Tom Kreager
The Commercial Appeal

Lausanne running back Eric Gray added to his accolades on Thursday when he received his second straight Tennessee Gatorade football player of the year honor.

The award comes more than a week after the four-star college prospect became the first three-time Tennessee Titans Mr. Football winner.

Lausanne's Eric Gray was named the Tennessee Gatorade Football Player of the Year on Thursday.

Gray, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior, rushed for 2,499 yards and 40 touchdowns on 241 carries in 2018. He helped lead the Lynx to the Division II-AA state semifinals.

He also set the TSSAA record for most career touchdowns with 138.

“Eric Gray is a very elusive guy with great speed,” St. George's football coach Andre Lott said. “He can run you over or he can beat you in the open field. Most teams load the box to stop the run against him, but that hasn’t happened yet.”    

More:Eric Gray, Maurice Hampton win Mr. Football Awards

Gray, a two-time Commercial Appeal Offensive Player of the Year, has been picked to play in the 2019 All-American Bowl in San Antonio next month.

Gray, who decommitted from Michigan last week, is the No. 5 prospect in Tennessee according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 4 all-purpose back in the country.

Gray is now a candidate for the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

The Gatorade player of the year award recognizes athletes for outstanding play on the athletic field along with academic achievement and exemplary character shown on and off the field.

Gray has also been a middle school math tutor. He also raised money for Touchdowns Against Cancer, raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Gray has a 3.5 GPA.

More:UT Vols: Tennessee football recruiting target Eric Gray decommits from Michigan

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@gannett.com or on Twitter @Kreager.