Dallas Cowboys Draft: Meet Eric Gray, RB Oklahoma

This is probably one of the better drafts for the Dallas Cowboys to have lurking as they look to make tough decisions on their current running back personnel.

They started with changing the running back coach, Skip Peete. Will they change the actual runners? That’s to be determined or expected. If Dallas Cowboys go in a different direction with running backs, you may not find a better alternative than drafting Eric Gray.

The Dallas Cowboys have found success before drafting running backs (Demarco Murray) from Oklahoma. Will they go back to the well a second time?

Gray is a 5-foot-10, 210 lb. running back from the University of Oklahoma. Memphis born and bred; he originally started his career at Tennessee as a Volunteer. Wisely, he took his talents, not to South Beach, but to Norman following in the footsteps of some really good NFL running backs.

Oklahoma has been known to produce solid talent at the running back position. Adrian Peterson, do I need to go any further? Billy Sims and Demarco Murray also come to mind.

Granted, Eric Gray isn’t quite the talent that those players were, he has still left his own mark at the university. His biggest statistical year was his senior season at Oklahoma where he accumulated 1366 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. The analytics also back up his performance as an effective running back. PFF graded him a 90.6 overall offensive grade (92.4 run grade and 83.2 receiving grade).

Three immediate pluses for Eric Gray – outstanding patience, good pad level and bounces off defenders with excellent burst when he sees a little daylight. Not totally sold on his long speed but to be frank – who cares? Do you know what Nick Chubb, Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs had in common? Two things actually – all three were top running backs in 2022 and all three had 4.5 times in the 40-yard dash or higher.

If Eric Gray times a 4.5 in the 40, it’s not the end of the world. He does have enough speed on tape to be a really effective runner in a west coast system. There are many other position drills that will be important to keep an eye on during the combine. Broad jump and three cone will show us what kind of athlete the Dallas Cowboys will be drafting.

In a league where the passing game is key, he’ll give the team an additional receiving threat. But unfortunately, you’ll get the less than superb blocking that he’ll have to develop sooner rather than later. He’ll be carrying a relatively clean bill of health with him to the NFL. That is certainly a big plus these days.

NFL Draft Projection: Fortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, this is a deep draft at this position. The team has other needs so looking later in the rounds is probably what they’ll be doing. Drafttek has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking him in the fifth round. If that’s the case, he is a prospect that should be in the ballpark for the Dallas Cowboys.

NFL Comparison: Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers