Marble Falls receiver Garrett Gray gives verbal commitment to Longhorns
Marble Falls senior receiver Garrett Gray maneuvers along the sideline June 10 during the Mustangs' 7-on-7 game against Lake Travis at Mustang Stadium. Gray gave a verbal commitment to play for the University of Texas later that day. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School senior receiver Garrett Gray didn’t need to wait any longer.
Gray verbally committed to play football for the University of Texas, saying he called head coach Mack Brown at 10 p.m. June 10.The Longhorns offered a scholarship June 9 after Gray attended a one-day minicamp on campus.
“It just felt right when I went (to the University of Texas) for my visit,” he said. “I felt like they’re about to turn the corner. I wanted to be a part of that. (Brown) was excited. He told me I’d be a great player.”
Other programs talked to Gray about moving him to tight end, which would have required he put on 40 more pounds, he said.
But Texas offensive coordinator Major Applewhite told Gray the Longhorns wanted to keep him as a wide out, Gray said. Because the Longhorns will again begin emphasizing the pass, the Mustang said he’ll be moved in and out with a slew of other receivers.
Gray was a fullback as a freshman, spent a year away from the gridiron as a sophomore to concentrate on basketball and then returned to football last season.
Under the direction of Marble Falls head coach Todd Dodge, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver snagged 82 passes for 1,226 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 122.6 yards per game last season.
And he believes playing in Dodge’s Air Raid offense is an advantage.
“It’s opened big doors for me,” Gray said. “It gave me a chance to show my talents and everything.”
Gray is the third player with Burnet County ties to recently commit to the Longhorns. The others were brothers Jordan and Jaxon Shipley of Burnet. Jordan is a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Jaxon, who committed to the Longhorns while playing for Brownwood, is a junior at Texas. All three are receivers.
Gray said another Shipley, their father Bob, talked to him about becoming a member of the Longhorns. Bob Shipley is the Longhorns’ football analyst.
“He had a lot of great things to say,” Gray said. “He told me I was bigger and faster than Jordan and Jaxon ever were and I had the possibility of being an All-American there.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com