December 18, 2024

Razorbacks pushing hard for Florida receiver

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It looks like the University of Arkansas football program will get an unofficial visit from one of the nation’s top junior receivers in the fall.

Denairius Gray, an Auburn commitment, has been communicating with Razorback receivers coach Ronnie Fouch and they’re working on a weekend for him to visit for a game.

“He sent me a couple of dates and I’m talking with my family on what date I’ll come up,” Gray said.

Gray, 6-2, 184 pounds, of Boynton Beach (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Georgia, Texas A&M, Penn State, LSU, Louisville and numerous others.

He pledged to Auburn on Jan. 1, but Fouch and the Hogs are coming after him hard.

“They have really been pushing for me a lot,” Gray said. “They have high interest in me and I really don’t mind and I really want to get on campus. This is my first time to get on campus, so I want to meet some of the coaches and see how things go and move forward with that.”

Gray had 25 catches for 372 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. As a freshman, he recorded 56 receptions for 752 yards, 14 touchdowns and 42 tackles and an interception at Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

While Fouch’s steady contact with Gray is a plus for the Hogs, Arkansas also has the commitment of receiver Kamare Williams, a good friend of Gray from nearby Palm Beach Central High School.

“Coach Ronnie texts me and calls me every now and then I always keep him up to date with a lot of stuff,” Gray said. “Like fall camp asking me how I’m doing. A close friend of mine, my brother, he’s committed there. He’s someone I can connect with. They really recruit me a lot. Like I can really tell they want me to be a part of what they’re building over there.”

Williams committed to Fouch and the Razorback on May 21 without a visit to Fayetteville. He got his first look at his future school when he made an official visit to Arkansas on June 14-16.

“He said he really likes it,” Gray said of Williams. “He said he committed there because he really liked the school and they treated him like family for sure. That’s the main thing he told me. It’s like family up there.”

Gray, who’s considering sports medicine, marine biology and culinary arts as possible majors in college, said he feels comfortable with his relationship with Fouch.

“He’s like real chill and he’s really transparent,” Gray said. “I feel like he’s a younger coach, so he can connect with me better than like most older coaches That’s what I got when I was on the phone with him.”

With an On3.com industry ranking as a 4-star prospect, Gray is rated the No. 36 receiver and No. 218 overall prospect in the nation for the 2026 class. He’s also rated the No. 41 recruit in Florida for his class.

The chance to play in Razorback offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s wide-open offense is attractive for Gray.

“I really don’t want to go to a school where they run the ball,” he said. “I want to go to a school where they throw the ball because I play receiver I don’t want to go out and block all day. Knowing blocking is important that’s not the main thing I want to do. I want to be able to make plays and catch passes.”

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