Cedric

Gray

Levis got in three limited practices but didn’t progress well enough to get the start against the Patriots on Sunday. Mason Rudolph will get that nod with Trevor Siemian serving as the backup.

The team opened his window a few weeks ago and will officially have him ready for action in Week 9. Gray, Tennessee’s fourth-round pick in this past draft, will battle new acquisition Jerome Baker for a starting role next to the predictably-rough Kenneth Murray. With the Titans in freefall, it would make some sense to see if the youngster has a spark to add to the lineup.

Gray was recruited as an athlete by mostly lower-division schools until UNC HC Mack Brown made him an offer. While the Charlotte product only played six defensive snaps during the tumultuous 2020 campaign, he became an indispensable leader of the defense as a sophomore by accruing 100 tackles and two interceptions in his first taste of extended reps. Gray would go on to post three-consecutive seasons of 100-plus tackles, while being named First Team All-ACC in each of his last two campaigns. He proved his chops in coverage with 72nd percentile PFF cover grades in each year as a starter while allowing a sub-70% completion rate when targeted in all three seasons. Gray’s burst is on display when read/reacting and crashing downhill, which along with his high football IQ helps to keep him in the play on most downs. He doesn’t have the upper body strength to absorb heavy contact from NFL-sized blockers, but is crafty in how he dips around them. He should compete for immediate playing time in the Tennessee linebacker room.

Gray (6'2/190) also plays wide receiver at the high school level, but according to 247Sports’ Don Callahan his scholarship offer is as a linebacker. The Ardrey Kell HS (Charlotte, North Carolina) junior was a standout on both sides of the football in 2018, earning all-state honors, and the North Carolina offer was his first from a power conference program. Gray is North Carolina’s 12th verbal commitment in the 2020 class, and fourth in the last week.