Relieved Gray focused on recruiting help
The surprise in Maleik Gray's decision to be a Vol on Sunday wasn't a big shock. The timing of it however was unexpected. But with the decision made, the 4-star safety said he is relieved.
“After I made the decision, I felt relieved. I hope that with me making this decision it's going to calm everything down. Let everyone know that I'm committed. My heart is on UT and being a Vol,” Gray said.
The reason for making the decision now was simply that Gray's mother was on the visit and gave the final approval that her son had been seeking.
“Mom got up on campus,” Gray said of the timing. “I have been waiting for her approval and to get up there and see what she thought about the campus. She loved it. She was sold on it.”
The news of Gray's decision created plenty of smiles in the football complex.
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The surprise in Maleik Gray's decision to be a Vol on Sunday wasn't a big shock. The timing of it however was unexpected. But with the decision made, the 4-star safety said he is relieved.
“After I made the decision, I felt relieved. I hope that with me making this decision it's going to calm everything down. Let everyone know that I'm committed. My heart is on UT and being a Vol,” Gray said.
The reason for making the decision now was simply that Gray's mother was on the visit and gave the final approval that her son had been seeking.
“Mom got up on campus,” Gray said of the timing. “I have been waiting for her approval and to get up there and see what she thought about the campus. She loved it. She was sold on it.”
The news of Gray's decision created plenty of smiles in the football complex.
“As mom was telling coach about how I felt and wanting to commit it seemed to me like coach's face started getting redder and redder,” Gray said. “My mom told him that I have been wanting to commit for a while. Coach's face was getting red. He was kind of tearing up. Coach Martinez couldn't believe it. No one could believe it. They were just happy that I made the decision. It made me happy too to be honest with you.
“Honestly, I did it for multiple reasons. It's close to home. I want my mom to be able to come see me play without it being a problem. Either way she still would have came but being close to home is good for us. They are family and friends there. I love the facilities. I love the academic area. I like what Butch Jones is doing with the program rebuilding it and recruiting really good guys and players.”
Now a Vol, the nation's 104 ranked player knows he has work to do in trying to get others around the country to join him in the class of 2017.
“I see it now that I have committed I'm a part of Vol Nation. If I'm part of the team, I need to get as many elite guys as I can to join the squad. If that's what I need to do then that's what I'm going to do.”
“Definitely, I'm in Princeton's (Fant) ear. I'm in Tee's (Higgins) ear. I'm in Jacoby's (Stevens) ear. I'm in some other guy's ear as well. I'm trying to get as many guys as I can.”
Gray spent Saturday evening in Knoxville hanging out with four star prospects Tee Higgins and Ty Chandler.