Recruiting Report: Zuriel Gray Jr. (Edison 2020)
Being apart of turning around a high school football program is no easy feat. It takes perseverance, grit, and toughness, and frankly a lot of kids who say they love football are not up to the task. Turning around a…
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Continue ReadingBeing apart of turning around a high school football program is no easy feat. It takes perseverance, grit, and toughness, and frankly a lot of kids who say they love football are not up to the task. Turning around a football program in Minneapolis is even more difficult, as compounding on the usual issues is the underfunded nature of athletic programs in the MPS districts. Zuriel Gray Jr. (5’8, 170) is the rare prep player that will stick with a team no matter the record. Playing at Minneapolis Edison can’t always be easy, as the program has scratched and crawled since its days of 1-7 when I competed in the Minneapolis City Conference six or seven years ago to becoming a squad consistently competing for a .500 record and section victories in recent years. Gray Jr. can be credited for a lot of the success, and him and his c/o 2020 worked hard to represent Edison well in the Twin City subdistricts. Edison has begun to put players in college football programs as well, as 3X captain Giovanni Green joined my alma mater St. Olaf College this season and his teammate Jackson Rusnacko joined the Hamline Pipers in St. Paul. Gray Jr. hopes to be the next Tommie in line to join the ranks of college football players, and he has the mentality and physical tools to make it happen. Check out what the senior has to say about Edison, 2019, and his college recruitment in this exclusive interview with Northstar Football News.
Gray Jr. jukes a Patrick Henry defender.NFN: Hello, Zuriel. Start by introducing yourself and tell us where you’re from and when you began to play football.
Gray Jr.: “I’m Zuriel Gray Jr. and I’m from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I’ve grown up here my whole life and I first started playing football when I was six growing up playing for North Commons (park board, like myself). I always played QB up until high school which is when I switched to DB & WR. The thing I like the most about football is the challenge of shutting down a teams #1 WR which is something I take pride in doing.”
NFN: How was Edison’s as well as your 20118 and 2019 seasons? What’s been a key component to your teams turn around and success?
Gray Jr.: “Last year (my junior year) I broke my femur bone in the first game so I sat out all that year and so this year was really my bounce back season. My expectations for this year was to win the City Championship but we fell short. Something that helped our program was older guys being leaders to the younger guys and showing them the ropes. We always had some first time players and so I wanted to be like a big brother to the guys. My favorite part about playing for Edison is how it’s a family and a brotherhood and it’s all love. Even when we fight it’s just what families do. My first eight games I played well this year. I switched from slot receiver to running back and really showed that I can play multiple positions and that I’m willing to do whatever to try and help my team win. In sections we fell short to Delasalle who are a pretty tough team. I felt like we let it slip away in the late second quarter and I wish we could have that back.”
NFN: What’s new with recruiting? What are you looking for in a college and who have you been in contact with?
Gray Jr.Gray Jr.: “Teams I’m interested in is Southwest Minnesota State, the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons, Bethel, U of M Crookston, Northwestern St. Paul, St. Cloud State, Hamline, and Augsburg. I’ve been in contact with Augsburg (often) and they always show love and show out to Coach Red and the rest of the staff. What I’m looking for in the recruiting process is just a school that can make me feel at home and a staff and team that will help me grow as a player and a man for the next four years and also take my game to the next level while getting my degree. I’m trying to build a relationship with coaches and most importantly have my Mom and Dad get a feel for the school because those are the two most important people in my life.”