Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/76097
Jonas Gray Sees Brighter Days Ahead IRISH IN THE PROS BY WES MORGAN Y dured such emotional swings as running back Jonas Gray. From an afterthought to the feel-good story of the year, Gray teamed up with Cierre Wood to churn out 160.4 rushing yards per game and 25 total touchdowns before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Boston College Nov. 19. A career that was once headed for a let- ou'd be hard pressed to find another player at Notre Dame last season that en- down was reignited in 2011, only to be seem- ingly snuffed out at the worst possible time. Fans, along with Gray, wondered if his 791 yards (6.9 per carry) and 12 scores as a se- nior, after rushing for only 309 yards without crossing the goal line in his previous three seasons, would be enough for NFL teams to take interest. And if so, would the injury make it a moot point? Gray's tears that November night in names were called out during April's NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins offered Gray an undrafted rookie free agent deal designed to give him time to get healthy, even if that meant sitting out the 2012-13 season. Gray, in the final phases of his rehabilitation process, has no intention of waiting that long. "I get more and more excited every day," South Bend, on an evening meant to recog- nize the senior class, were quickly wiped away and replaced by sweat beads in an effort to reach his rekindled dream of play- ing on Sundays. That goal became reality after the last few Gray, who is recovering from a knee injury suffered last November, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins and hopes to participate in training camp. AUGUST 2012 107 PHOTO COURTESY MIAMI DOLPHINS