Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

In an effort to keep even the most hardcore Miami fan up to date on their favorite players, SOTU will be running a Player Profile series. In these posts, our writers will profile players from each position that they think should get more face time. They will recap their previous year, or in some cases, preview what may be to come. That way, when the season get’s here, you hopefully will have a new found love for the team on the field.

Trayone Gray

RB – Junior 6’2 220 – Miami, Fl

2015 Key Stats:  23 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD’s.

Very talented player out of Carol City H.S. looks to have a more defined role in 2016.

Will be competing for carries/reps with Joe Yearby, Mark Walton, and Gus Edwards though.

Had a very solid spring, including this very nice run in a scrimmage:

“Choc” as he is affectionately know, is a natural athlete with the ball in his hands.

Summary:  Physically, Gray reminds me a lot of former UNC and NFL star Leon Johnson (Jets, Bears, etc in the 1990’s).  But Johnson had a nice college and pro career because he could block, catch passes, and return kicks, as well as carry the rock.  Choc was kind of a jack of all trades in H.S., but has not yet mastered the subtleties of the running back position, nor been given enough snaps to consistently prove his value at UM.  There’s hope in 2016 for Gray though.  Coach Mark Richt typically loves bigger backs, and Grey looks every bit of 220, if not bigger.  If Richt and Thomas Brown can get him refined in all aspects of the position, he may be too good not to get more snaps/carries. Gray can start and stop on a dime, carry tacklers for extra yards, and make people miss in the open field. He’s a very dangerous 4th option to have in a deep back field.  With Edwards back healthy, and Walton/Yearby the best receiving options at RB, that’s exactly where Gray remains for the time being.  Unfortunately carries will be tough to come by.  I’d love to see Choc get some more run at kick returner in the meantime.  Hopefully though, Miami controls the line of scrimmage enough to get him at least a few snaps every game at RB.  If they do, he is a big play waiting to happen.