Why Eric Gray picked UT Vols football: 'Help Tennessee get back to where they're supposed to be'

Eric Gray had his mind made up weeks ago, but that didn't stop him from manufacturing a little suspense. 

On Wednesday, the four-star running back made a post on Snapchat about his final four schools and purposely left the Tennessee Vols out, listing Memphis, Ole Miss, Michigan and South Carolina.  As he was set to announce his college decision on Thursday at Lausanne, he placed hats from those four schools on a table.

"Everybody was like, 'I thought you were going to Tennessee' and I was like, 'Nah, they didn't make it,''' said Gray. 

But Gray put on a hidden white Tennessee hat with an orange "T" on it, picking the school that he visited five times. 

"I fell in love with Knoxville going down there so many times," Gray said. "Didn't get a chance to go to Michigan really as much but just being there (in Knoxville) with Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt, (assistant) Coach (Chris) Weinke and (assistant) Coach Dave (Johnson), it was really a family atmosphere and that's why I chose it," said Gray. 

Gray, who set the state record for career touchdowns with 138, committed to Michigan on July 1 but decommitted on Dec. 1.

"He was trying to keep it close to his chest, but I knew that's where his heart was," said Gray's father, Eric Gray Sr.  

Gray said that the Vols sold him on a vision of being a program-changing back like he was at Lausanne. In 2014, the year before Gray began his career at Lausanne, the Lynx went 6-4. Lausanne went 46-4 and won two state titles during Gray's four-year career. 

"To go in and play early for sure, go in and help Tennessee get back to where they're supposed to be, play running back, and be the top guy on the team," Gray said when asked what his role would be. 

"When you go to a program that's been winning and they keep winning it doesn't really have the same impact that it does going to a losing program and making them win again."

Gray is a signature pickup for Pruitt and the Vols' 2019 class, which is ranked sixth in the SEC and 16th nationally.

"He’s very creative. He has really good hands, runs with power and great vision. It’s hard to get a good lick on him," said Pruitt. "He’s a guy that we targeted early in the process and we’re really excited that he is here. He’s another guy that’s a very good student, comes from a good family and we’re fired up about having him.”

The 5-10, 193-pound senior is the No. 4 all-purpose back in the nation and the No. 5 prospect in Tennessee, according to the 247Sports composite. and put together one of the most decorated careers in TSSAA history.

He is the only player to win three consecutive Mr. Football awards. He won the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year award twice. And he led Lausanne to state titles in 2016 and 2017. 

Gray is the second player in the 2019 class from Memphis to sign with the Vols, following Whitehaven offensive lineman Melvin McBride, who signed Wednesday. 

Gray has graduated from Lausanne and will play in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 5 in San Antonio before starting classes at Tennessee the following Monday. 

His primary competition will be juniors Ty Chandler, the returning starter, and Tim Jordan.

"I think it's important that he's signing today, and I think it's important that he is at spring practice to give himself the best opportunity to compete as a true freshman," said Lausanne coach Kevin Locastro. 

More Eric Gray coverage:

Giving Back:Lausanne's Eric Gray and Isaac Weiss raise $21,000 for St. Jude

Getting it done in the clutch:Eric Gray, Lausanne get overtime victory over Whitehaven in budding rivalry

Gray's last home game:Lausanne football wins, star RB Eric Gray scores two touchdowns in final home game