Player Description
Name: Cedric Gray
School: North Carolina
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Height: 6'2
Weight: 234 lbs
Draft Projection: Early Day 2 to Late Day 3
Strengths:
Quick-twitched athlete
Ideal frame and physicality
Highly-versatile defender
Instinctive - good nose for the ball
High volume tackler
Ubiquitous on the field
Excellent range and closing speed
Excels in supporting the run
Acceleration makes him an asset in both supporting the run and coverage
Allows the play to unfold before making his move
Able use his speed to make plays in the backfield
Weaknesses:
The biggest concern with Gray is his ability to shed blocks. In these situations, Gray has problems separating from opposing blockers to make plays. In relation to this, Gray's overall play strength is questionable and will need to considerably improve when facing offensive linemen climbing the second level.
Gray's overall pursuit angles are problematic and often lead to missed tackles. Though he is generally productive in this area, he has missed out on opportunities to make plays in these instances. As a pass rusher, Gray has made some improvements, but overall, he lacks the requisite skills to be effective in this area.