2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Cedric Gray, a linebacker out of UNC. He is from Charlotte, NC, and was a 3-star recruit from Ardrey Kelly High School.
Gray spent all four years of his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina. In his first season, he played in only 3 games in the Covid-19-shortened season.
He followed up with a breakout season in 2021. He played in 13 games and recorded 52 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 interceptions.
His true breakout season was in 2022. In 14 games as a junior, he racked up a whopping 82 tackles, 1 sack and 2 interceptions. He followed that up in 2022 with a 64-tackle season, with five sacks and one interception season before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2020 | North Carolina | ACC | FR | LB | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| *2021 | North Carolina | ACC | SO | LB | 13 | 52 | 47 | 99 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | ||
| *2022 | North Carolina | ACC | JR | 14 | 82 | 63 | 145 | 12.0 | 1.0 | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| *2023 | North Carolina | ACC | SR | LB | 12 | 64 | 57 | 121 | 11.0 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | North Carolina | 198 | 170 | 368 | 29.0 | 8.5 | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | ||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Is an instinctive and skilled run-stopper.
- Possesses elite athleticism as shown at the NFL Combine.
- He has a great feel for working off blocks and getting penetration.
- Plays much bigger than he is listed due to his high motor and passion for success.
Weaknesses
- Often struggles off the edge as a pass rusher.
- He doesn’t consistently create pressure due to a lack of technique.
- Tends to grab and drag as a tackler.
- Frequently gets beat 1 on 1 by running backs due to a lack of technique.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Late Round 3
Ideal Landing Spot: Seattle Seahawks
Gray was originally projected as a third-round pick, but after an impressive 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, he could easily find himself sneaking into the second round.
The Seahawks are another team being gutted on defense in free agency and if they choose to use a Day 2 pick on Gray, he could be a phenomenal value. Gray has the potential to be a long-term stud and bring the Seahawks back into the days of the Legion of Boom.
