I appreciate Gray tagging me in his most recent first three game tape, which is currently pinned to his Twitter. Four full minutes of nothing but technically sound tackling from a linebacker who is currently ranked inside the top 150 in his class. I’m getting a bit of validation from my previous evaluation here. Gray carries a Division I linebacker build and is adding ample production to back up that claim.

The first rep on tape showcases Gray’s complete thought process postsnap. He is a linebacker capable of reading and reacting to a releasing tight end, dropping into his zone and playing the passing window accordingly. He then identifies the quarterback leaving the pocket, closes ground and makes an impact play 15 to 20 yards away from his presnap alignment.

His offensive reps at running back are icing on the cake, as are his special teams reps. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a collegiate level linebacker, regardless of what level he ultimately plays at. Gray is a violent, tone setting player. You can even see it on special teams, where he is leveling would be tacklers while working on the return team.

He can align at fullback in I formation sets and can tote the rock himself. Flat out, he is one of the toughest and more hard nosed players in his class. He can shed and put himself in position to make plays purely based on instinct. His lateral movement immediately after the snap, even before handoffs are made, consistently puts him in advantageous positions to clean up plays or create tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Those instincts are exactly what you want to see from a linebacker who is now an upperclassman. Great effort player with a great motor to match.

Several reps from Jake Gray Jake Gray 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB/RB Phoenixville | 2028 State PA appear in the video above. New Prep Redzone PA writer Jamiel Josey recently wrote up Phoenixville’s Jake Gray Jake Gray 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB/RB Phoenixville | 2028 State PA after spotlighting him during our most recent event. Below is an excerpt of what he had to say.

Gray is expected to be elevated off of our watchlist moving forward.

Jake Gray Jake Gray 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB/RB Phoenixville | 2028 State PA is a Class of 2028 Phoenixville High School middle linebacker with a prototypical build at 6’2”, 225 pounds. He has a solid, dense frame with a thick lower body and strong shoulders that immediately looks the part of an inside linebacker. Gray shows high-level strength for his age, giving him the ability to take on and shed blockers effectively. He plays with a true north-south mindset and excels when attacking downhill. While his short-area agility is solid, he is best suited operating between the tackles rather than in extended space. Gray’s strength and physicality make him a premier run-stuffer at the point of attack. His motor runs hot, as he relentlessly pursues ball carriers snap after snap. He delivers high-impact hits and brings physical tone to the middle of the defense. Gray also displays mental toughness and the confidence to command the defense. He profiles as an ideal plug-and-play inside linebacker for both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes that value toughness in the middle.