Name: Isaiah Gray
School: Lincoln University of Missouri
Position: DE/LB hybrid
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 235
Q: What goals did you accomplish heading into your final collegiate season?
The goals that I accomplished this past season were being a great teammate and leader both on and off the field. Being able to lead by example for the younger upcoming guys was big to me because guidance is very important. Statically, only playing two years of college football I amassed 120+ tackles which exceeded my 2 yr goal that I made for myself when I walked on to the team. In addition, I earned all conference honors both seasons and represented my university and home town (East St. Louis).
Q: What would your coaches say about the type of player you are?
My coaches would say that I’m the type of player who hustles on the field and in the weight room and one who doesn’t give up. They’d say that I bring a lot of positive energy and that I’m coachable and take constructive criticism effectively to being a better player.
Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on to improve your game?
When I’m watching film I focus on tendencies and repetition. Knowing a teams or players tendencies will take away the thought process on the field allowing me to play faster. This plays a lot into my awareness and football IQ. That then plays into situational circumstances and repetitiveness. Also I watch what personnel/packages that offenses use from down and distance to where they are on the field. Film is really like a cheat sheet on a test.
Q: What separates you from the other players at your position?
Things that separate me from other players at any position I’m at is my drive and determination, I just don’t give up. I feel I have great football awareness and IQ and always am around the ball. I’m a versatile player so I can play multiple positions and still contribute to the team and be a force. I’m fast and strong with good technique.
Q: How will you train and prepare this offseason for the draft or other pro opportunities?
I’ll be here at school doing all my training for further endeavors because that’s where I got to the point I am now. Our strength and conditioning coach is serious about his job and it’s showed throughout all of the sports programs at the University.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
My positive aura and constant want to learn and get better as well as my God given talent will be great with any team that finds interest in me. Also, I’m a great teammate/brother and me being down to earth allows to me connect and vibe with a lot of people and help better understand life as a whole. This all plays hand in hand with my role on the field because that’ll cause me to go that much harder for my brothers.
Q: What is your final pitch or sell to NFL and other pro league scouts?
Any team willing to take a chance on me will be getting a person who is serious and committed as well as coachable, who displays great character and hard work on and off the field. I take pride in everything I put my heart into so I’m definitely proud to be a student of this game and want to continue to be inspirational to others and especially people from my hometown East St. Louis. Our little city is so gifted but yet so explosive in many positive ways and I just want to keep uplifting, helping and guiding while displaying my God given talents.
