Tag: Cedric Gray

9 early contenders for Cowboys 2nd-round pick at LB, RB, CB

Dallas has had its issues with their second-round picks, here are several early options they hope could be success stories from the round. | From @cdpiglet

Minus the occasional home runs of Demarcus Lawrence and Trevon Diggs, the second-round picks of the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been ideal. Since Lawrence in 2014, the Cowboys have drafted Randy Gregory, Jaylon Smith, Chidobe Awuzie, Connor Williams, Trysten Hill, Trevon Diggs, Kelvin Joseph, Sam Williams, and Luke Schoonmaker. There were a few contributors, but only Diggs stands out as a true game-changer.

Williams and Schoonmaker are too early to call, but none of the others were selections the team would make in a redraft. This team has plenty of talent, but the 2023 draft class had nearly zero impact and the Cowboys need this draft to be different. More often than not Dallas nails their first rounder, but they need more out of the other Top 60 pick.

Even if Jerry Jones sincerely meant it when he said the team was all in and the team added free agents at defensive tackle, running back, linebacker, and cornerback, the team would still need significant contributors behind them for depth in 2024.

10 potential Eagles NFL draft targets that stood out during the 2024 Senior Bowl

We’re looking at 10 potential Philadelphia Eagles NFL draft targets that stood out during the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl

The NFL draft starts in Mobile, Alabama, and as the Eagles and 29 other teams start figuring out a plan to reach the Super Bowl, coaches, scouts, and GMs have descended upon the most storied all-star game going today.

The National Team defeated the American Team, 16-7, in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the University of South Alabama campus.

The game capped off a week-long interview process, including three days of practices, for more than 100 of the 2024 NFL Draft’s top senior (and select underclassman) prospects.

With all eyes now on the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, here are ten potential Eagles draft targets that stood out.

List of linebackers and edges at 2024 Senior Bowl

List of linebackers and edges at 2024 Senior Bowl

With the NFL as pass-happy as it is, pass-rushers are extremely valuable. Having a good week in Mobile can also help such players. Just ask the Jets. They have selected an edge that was at the Senior Bowl in the first round in each of the last two drafts — Jermaine Johnson, 2022; Will McDonald, 2023.

Could the Jets add another this year? Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will get a close eye on some of these players as the American team head coach. Not just Ulbrich, but linebackers coach Nathaniel Willingham as well, as he will be on the coaching staff. Joining Willingham is Imarjaye Albury of the Vikings, Rob Leonard of the Raiders and Cato June of the Colts. [anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media]Here’s who’s in Mobile this week at the edge and linebacker positions.

Pro Football Network sends Vikings DB — not QB — in latest mock draft

Cam Mellor of Pro Football Network sends the Minnesota Vikings some defensive help in the first round, and a host of other players in his latest 7-round mock draft

In somewhat of a surprise, Pro Football Network’s Cam Mellor is going against the grain with his selection for the Minnesota Vikings and sending them some help in the secondary rather than at quarterback. In his latest mock draft, Mellor has the Vikings selecting former Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Cooper DeJean with the 11th pick.

Here’s what Mellor has to say about the selection:

Iowa cornerbacks are always going to be pro-ready, and that’s just what Cooper DeJean presents for the Minnesota Vikings. A late-season injury forced him out of the Big Ten Championship, but DeJean should be ready to go by minicamp.

He’s a speedster on the outside with plenty of length and burst. DeJean comes fully equipped with elite ball skills and a special teams ability that rivals everyone in this class.

DeJean is an interesting pick for the Vikings here, especially with how the board fell in this scenario. While the Vikings could certainly benefit from help in their secondary, conventional wisdom would say that quarterback is the more pressing need — especially if Kirk Cousins isn’t going to be back healthy next season.

Mellor continued on after the first round and projected the entirety of the 2024 NFL Draft. Here’s who he tabbed for the Vikings in rounds 2 through 7:

Cedric Gray declares for the 2024 NFL draft

Cedric Gray declares for the 2024 NFL draft and opts out of the Duke Mayo bowl game.

North Carolina linebacker [autotag]Cedric Gray[/autotag] announced he will declare for the upcoming NFL draft, opting out of UNC’s Duke Mayo Bowl in the process.

Gray took to social media Monday afternoon, announcing his plans to enter the 2024 NFL draft thanking the UNC for the journey. In the same post, Gray confirmed that he would not be participating in UNC’s bowl game against West Virginia. A decision many players in his position make.

The senior has been the vocal leader for UNC’s defense, becoming a household name around the nation thanks to his strong tackling ability. Gray, in the last two seasons, has 266 tackles, six sacks, and five forced fumbles.

His presence in the passing game has also been notable, with three interceptions and ten pass deflections in two years. Gray won’t be lacing up for UNC again this season, but he will represent him in the Reese’s senior bowl as he looks to raise his draft stock.

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Three UNC football players named First Team All-ACC

Three UNC football players were named to the All-ACC First Team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The 2023 regular season didn’t end how the North Carolina Tar Heels had hoped for, going 8-4 and losing to both Clemson and NC State on the road to end the campaign.

But there were some players on the team that stood out and played at an All-Conference level.

On Tuesday, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced their All-Conference teams with the season complete and three Tar Heels earned First Team Honors.

Running back Omarion Hampton, tight end Bryson Nesbit, and linebacker Cedric Gray earned First Team All-ACC honors, being among the best in the conference. They were joined by Drake Maye (Second Team), Kaimon Rucker (Second Team), Noah Burnette (Second Team), Tez Walker (Third Team), Willie Lampkin (Third Team), and Power Echols (Third Team).

Alijah Huzzie, Spencer Rolland, Corey Gaynor and Myles Murphy were all named honorable mentions.

Hampton rushed for 1,442 yards which was best in the ACC and fourth in the country. He also had 16 total touchdowns on the year.  Nesbit had 41 catches for 585 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Gray had 121 total tackles, which was second in the ACC.

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Cedric Gray talks about accountability following UNC’s loss to NC State

UNC defensive leader Cedric Gray talks accountability and bowl game plans following UNC’s 39-20 loss to NC State.

The UNC football team experienced a roller coaster of a season after starting 6-0 to finishing 8-4, with Saturday night’s nightmare against NC State being the final nail of a what-if season.

Still looking ahead, the Tar Heels have earned themselves a bowl game, but it’s hard to ignore what could’ve been if UNC season didn’t get derailed by UVA. One player who has experienced the Tar Heels up and down trend the last few seasons is senior defensive leader [autotag]Cedric Gray[/autotag].

Gray spoke with media following the 39-20 loss to NC State, answering questions on feelings about the loss, what went wrong, and his bowl game plans. Gray opened the conference and asked if he would describe the end of the season as embarrassing as teammate Drake Maye did.

“Definitely feel a little embarrassed,” Gray said. “Two games that we thought coming into them we could find a way to win. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Definitely frustrated, just have to take it in.”

When asked about his bowl game plans and if he planned to play Gray kept it short. “I’m not sure yet, sit with my family, talk with my coaches, and just see what’s the best decision for that.

The game brought a lot of questions, especially for the current coaching staff. Following the loss, Mack Brown put the loss on him due to lack of preparation.

Gray fired back at the notion that the coaches deserved blame stating “Me personally, I hold myself to a high standard so, I don’t ever blame the coaches or anything like that. We can talk about different things they did that we could’ve done better, but at the end of the day, we are the ones out there playing, and we are the ones who have to make plays. I’m the type of person to hold myself and my teammates accountable.

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Helmet stickers for UNC’s letdown at NC State

While the Tar Heels disappointed us all again in last night’s football game at NC State, there were a few players who stood out.

There’s not much positive to say about UNC’s regular-season finale on Saturday night.

The Tar Heels lost to NC State, 39-20, scoring most of their points in garbage time. UNC star running back Omarion Hampton never got going, while quarterback Drake Maye was highly inefficient through the air.

Saturday was Carolina’s third straight loss to its greatest football rival, a now, one-sided series that becomes less of a rivalry with results like Saturday’s. I thought the Tar Heels would at least show up and make it competitive, but they sorely lacked that fight.

Give credit to the Wolfpack, who played one of their most complete games of 2023. In its fifth-straight win, dual-threat quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Six different ball-carriers combined for 170 yards and another score.

Even in the disappointing result for Carolina, there were a couple players who shined.

Tar Heels announce captains for regular season finale at NC State

Drake Maye, John Copenhaver and Cedric Gray will all captain the UNC football team for Saturday night’s battle at N.C. State.

And just like that, college footballs’ regular season is coming to a close.

What started as a year full of hope and promise, is now a year with heartbreak and unexpected results.

You’ve seen traditional powers, like Clemson, lose to a historically bad Duke team. Ohio State went into Ann Arbor earlier today, hoping to secure its spot in the College Football Playoff, only for Michigan to win a third-consecutive battle. Arizona, a program who hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2017, is now ranked and about to nab its ninth victory.

Two seasons that are exactly the same right now, but have gone in completely opposite directions, are those of UNC and NC State. These two ACC rivals, who the football hatred runs deep between, are facing off at 8 p.m. ET tonight.

Carolina started 6-0 and was ranked 10th in the AP Poll, putting them in fringe College Football Playoff position. Consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and lowly UVA, plus later Clemson, killed both CFP and ACC Championship hopes.

The Wolfpack were sitting at 4-3, unsure of who their starting quarterback was, but are now in the midst of a 4-game winning streak.

One of our favorite things to do before games is look at team captains. For UNC, those captains are quarterback Drake Maye, tight end John Copenhaver and star linebacker Cedric Gray.

Even with an off week at Clemson, Maye still leads the ACC with 3,354 passing yards. Copenhaver hasn’t been utilized as much in recent weeks, but is still one of three Carolina tight ends with 100 receiving yards. Gray is the only Tar Heel with 100 tackles, plus one of two in the ACC (Payton Wilson) to reach the century mark.

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Cedric Gray accepts 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl invite

North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray has accepted the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl invite that highlights top collegiate players.

It’s been a fruitful year for North Carolina senior linebacker [autotag]Cedric Gray[/autotag], as his Tar Heel journey end is near.

As one of the best linebackers in the nation, Gray should get a good look at the upcoming NFL draft, but to help boost his presence, the Tar Heel has accepted to participate in the annual Reese’s Senior Bowl. An event that showcases collegiate all-star football players.

The event will take place on February 3rd, giving NFL scouts a good look at some of the top players in the nation after the season ends. This is the 75th anniversary of the senior bowl, and the game will be played at the University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Gray has been instrumental this season for the much-improved UNC defense. He has 96 total tackles, a career-high in sacks (4.5), two forced fumbles, three pass deflections, and one interception. Gray has already made a name for himself, but this game will increase it more.

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