FARMINGTON — A versatile performer, Farmington junior Tycen Gray is putting together a strong season through the first two games and is seeing his recruiting pick up in recent months.
At 6’4, 210-pounds, Gray entered his high school career as a quarterback when he was a freshman, but was later moved to outside receiver and tight end.
This summer he moved to the slot, wing position. On defense he’s played at all three different levels during the course of his football career.
“I think that experiencing different kinds of positions allows me to have multiple sets of skills that keep me from being one-dimensional and helps me make different types of plays on the football field,” Gray said. “I also see myself as a playmaker, whether it’s the right play or the big play, I always want to make an impact on every single snap taken.’
Gray says he spent a lot of the offseason working on his footwork and improving his route running abilities. And as a linebacker, he says he is still trying to shed some habits he learned as a defensive back.
“There are still some habits I’ve gained from the past couple years that I need to break so being more of a downhill and hole-reading player is definitely what I’ve been focusing on,” Gray said.
He began playing football in second grade for a local league, MAFL (Mineral Area Football League).
“Those Saturday mornings by the lake playing football will be memories that I’ll cherish forever,” he said.
Gray says the most important influence on his football career is Jeff Owens who coached him in the MAFL all five years.
“He first spotted me when I was a big 7 year old playing baseball with his stepson, and he just drove the idea of me being a dominant lineman into the heads of my parents,” Gray said. “My parents allowed me to play football and the rest is history. Jeff is the guy who really made me love football, taught me correct techniques, and set the aggressive mindset that I want to bring to the field.
“A lot of what I do today on the field is what I gathered from Coach Owens, and I really don’t know where’d I be without him.”
Although he is still in the early stages of the recruiting process, Gray has received e-mails, camp invites, recruiting profile follows, and Twitter interactions from all levels. He has heard from Wisconsin, Columbia, Illinois State, Northern Arizona, Central Missouri, and Washington University in St. Louis.
