When a college football team experiences a 2-5 season that includes a five-game losing streak, most every individual goal spirals along with it.
With Tennessee, there is one notable exception.
Sophomore running Eric Gray has been nothing short of superb after expressing a preseason desire to rush for 1,000 yards against a 10-game schedule consisting solely of Southeastern Conference opponents that resulted due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder from Memphis has rushed 132 times for 651 yards and needs 349 in the final three games against No. 6 Florida, No. 5 Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
“I think about that all the time,” Gray said Tuesday afternoon. “It would still mean a lot, and I am still pushing for it with three games left. I think we’ve got enough chances to go out there and do it.”
A repeat performance of last year’s 25-carry, 246-yard eruption against the Commodores certainly would enhance his chances, but Gray shouldn’t be lacking for confidence in his quest following his most recent effort. In Tennessee’s 30-17 loss at Auburn on Nov. 21, he pounded out 173 yards on 22 carries for a season-best showing.