Tyreik Gray scouting report: Creative running back

Tyreik Gray is considered one of the top offensive playmakers in the nation, and has a long list of schools across the country pursuing his services.

Gray attends Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal High School, and is listed at 5'11 and 187 pounds. He is projected to play running back at the next level.

Gray is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and Scout, while ESPN rates him as only a three-star prospect. Rivals is highest on him, considering him the 13th-best running back in the nation, while 247sports also ranks him among the top 15. The 247sports composite, which aggregates the ratings of all four major recruiting services, considers him a four-star prospect, ranking him as the 16th-best running back in the nation and the 27th-best player in the state of Texas.

Gray claims offers from Baylor, California, Oklahoma, Arizona State, Oklahoma State and Arkansas, among others. He can be found on Twitter @TyreikGray.

Despite not being listed as an all-purpose back, Gray was a playmaker last year at Texas state 7on7, as he consistently got open deep or turned short passes into long gains. In fact, he was as good as any of the wide receivers were and presented a serious mismatch for linebackers.

It translated to the football season, as Gray gained 334 yards through the air on 23 catches and caught three touchdown passes.

On the ground, he picked up over 1,000 yards on only 93 carries and scored 19 touchdowns.

Athletically, Gray didn't have the best testing day at a Nike event, running a 4.68 40. He must have fallen or slipped on his shuttle because it took him 4.97 seconds to complete it. His vertical was 32 inches. On the track, Gray has run some sub-11 second 100m times, but those numbers are typically wind-aided.

On film, Gray looks faster than his testing time, as he can visibly accelerate past defenders in the open field and doesn't get caught from behind. On the flip side, his competition level isn't the highest since he plays at a private school.

Gray likes to bounce runs outside in the Episcopal offense and could have trouble doing that as frequently in college with the increased speed, as he seems to be more explosive downhill than lateral, though he does have good short-area change of direction ability.

Several other elements of his game could make him a high-level contributor in college if they can translate -- he likes to hurdle defenders, has a spin move that can allow him to slip through the arms of opponents, and can break tackles around his feet.

With his receiving skills, good speed, and change of direction ability, Gray has some upside as a college running back.