Mel Gray (return specialist)
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Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.
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| Positions | Wide receiver, running back, return specialist | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | March 16, 1961 Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 166 lb (75 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Lafayette (Williamsburg, Virginia) | ||||||||
| College |
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| Supplemental draft | 1984: 2nd round, 42nd overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Melvin Junius Gray (born March 16, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a kick returner in the National Football League (NFL). He played with the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, Houston/Tennessee Oilers, and Philadelphia Eagles. He began his professional career for the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (USFL), following his college football career as a running back at Purdue. Gray attended Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he was teammates with future NFL players Lawrence Taylor and Ron Springs.
Gray is widely considered to be one of the greatest return specialists of all time in the NFL. He holds the record for being the first, second, and third-oldest player to return a kickoff for a touchdown (33 years, 276 days; 33 years, 235 days; and 33 years, 221 days).[1]
Gray was a standout athlete at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was named to the All-Peninsula District Track Team for the 200 meter dash as a senior and tied his school record in the 100 meter dash as a sophomore.[2][3]
Upon graduation, Gray enrolled at Coffeyville Community College. In his freshman season, he was part of a backfield that helped lead the team to an 11–0 record and a #2 ranking in the NJCAA poll. He shared the backfield with future Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Pro Bowler Mike Rozier.[4] In his sophomore season, Gray became the feature back and rushed for 1,397 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.[5] He was the leading scorer in Junior College football and third in rushing.[6] He was nominated first-team all-Jayhawk Conference and all-American.[7][8]
Gray then chose to attend Purdue over Pittsburgh who was also heavily recruiting him.[9] He made an immediate impression on the staff and the previous season's top 2 tailbacks were moved to other positions to accommodate for Gray becoming the feature back.[10] Gray rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in each of the two seasons with the Boilermakers and was named 2nd team all- Big Ten in 1983. He only returned two kicks during his time at Purdue.